Saturday, January 14, 2006

Feds, church to ask Phoenix fugitives to give up

The Arizona Republic

More than 80,000 fugitives in Maricopa County will be invited to turn themselves in at a house of God this spring under a program new to the area.

Fugitive Safe Surrender was first tried in Cleveland in October, when more than 800 suspects gave up at a Baptist church transformed for four days into a makeshift courtroom with judges, defense lawyers and prosecutors.

There is no offer of amnesty, U.S. Marshal David Gonzales said yesterday, but those who surrender are promised "favorable consideration."

That means they may be released without bail after appearing at the church and may be given leniency later at sentencing, he said. The unusual program lets suspects give up in a sanctuary environment without endangering themselves, their families and neighbors.

It pays off for the government and public by removing fugitives from the streets without the cost or peril of warrant squads bashing down suspects' doors.

"This is a win-win situation for all of us," Gonzales said yesterday during a planning session. "We're plowing new ground here in Phoenix, and I think we'll be setting the standard for the rest of the country."

Fugitive Safe Surrender was conceived by Peter J. Elliott, U.S. marshal for northern Ohio, as a faith-based project that would bring wanted nonviolent felons in voluntarily rather than via sting operations or warrant squads.

At the brainstorming session, he described how Cleveland clergy members spread word of the campaign and helped build trust among criminals.

He said a media blitz appealed to relatives of fugitives, including children, who could be injured or traumatized during arrests at residences.

"We crafted the message so family members would convince fugitives to turn themselves in," Elliott added. "This is, bottom line, a safer way of doing business."

The pilot program in Cleveland targeted 4,000 fugitives in a particular police district.

Of the 844 who surrendered at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 271 were felony fugitives.

Most were wanted for nonviolent crimes, but the turnout included suspects who had absconded from charges of rape, assault, burglary, robbery and drug offenses.

Six of the Ohio fugitives were taken to jail immediately. Most were ordered to appear in court later, and more than 80 percent showed up on the appointed dates.

Elliott enlisted help from the Rev. C. Jay Matthews and other Cleveland ministers, who called upon criminals to follow a moral path into the justice system.

Churches distributed 3,000 handbills promoting the event. Mailers were sent to last known addresses of fugitives.

Those who showed up at the church were assigned public defenders.

Nonprofit organizations offered family counseling, child care and other services.

Gonzales said the Phoenix event is planned over four days in May.

He said it likely will be at Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church at Jefferson and 14th streets.