300 Surrender at South Carolina Church

Authorities reported that more than 300 people have turned themselves in at the Bible Way Church in Columbia, South Carolina, as part of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Safe Surrender program. The program offers non-violent criminals with outstanding warrants to safely turn themselves in at faith-based setting, usually a church or other neutral site.

The four-day event in Columbia was the 10th stop around the nation for the Fugitive Safe Surrender program, which was approved by Congress in July 2006.

The program was designed to be a re-entry program for wanted, but non-violent offenders. Offenders are able to turn themselves in to law enforcement and have their cases adjudicated in a safe, non-violent environment.

Reduces the Risk of Harm

The program reduces the risk of harm to law enforcement officers who pursue the fugitive, the neighborhoods in which they are hiding and the fugitives themselves, according to the U.S. Marshal's Service. Offenders are encouraged by volunteers to safely surrender, many times without the threat of doing jail time (see photo).

The program has given hundreds of offenders the opportunity to return to mainstream society, rather than having to live in the shadows as wanted criminals.

Fugitives often hide their identities, either to avoid detection or to further their criminal behavior," according to the U.S. Marshals website. "They live in constant fear of arrest and out of the mainstream of their own communities."

A Financial Burden to Others

According to the Marshal's Service, many of the offenders, unable to apply for regular employment, support themselves by:

• Continued non-violent criminal activity (drugs, prostitution or theft).

• Non-criminal work where they are paid "under the table" and have no health care or other benefits.

• As a financial burden for employed, law-abiding family members.

Getting a Second Chance

Judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors and even representatives from the department of motor vehicles take part in the program to help those who come to the event with their cases.

Most non-violent offenders usually leave the church with a court date and a court-appointed attorney. Some even have their charges dropped or a plea deal worked out after a judge reviews their case.

At the most recent event in Columbia, 92 people turned up the first day to turn themselves in and dozens came through the rest of the week, with more than 300 people eventually getting a "second chance" at life.

"The whole reason we got involved is because it gives people a second chance," said Bible Way Church pastor Darrell Jackson.

Although 300 people took advantage of the four-day program, officials said there are more than 100,000 warrants outstanding in the metro-Columbia area alone. Authorities will begin today looking for those who didn't turn themselves in last week.

More About Fugitive Safe Surrender:

• Frequently Asked Questions
  
• Future Locations
  
• Photo Gallery

See Also:
221 People Surrender At A Columbia Church

^{Photo: U.S. Marshals Service}