Santa Clara County residents with warrants for their arrest will have the opportunity to spend the holidays with their families instead of in jail as local law enforcement agencies offer certain offenders a “second chance.”
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, individuals with non-violent misdemeanor criminal and traffic warrants can receive a citation with a new court date instead of being booked into the County Jail, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office as well as Morgan Hill and Gilroy police departments are participating in the warrant program, known as Operation Second Chance. Individuals can go to any law enforcement agency in the county to receive their warrant citation, which will require a “promise to appear” court date, authorities said.
Operation Second Chance is directed toward most misdemeanor warrants, regardless of the bail amount, according to the press release. This includes warrants stamped “no cite and release” and “no bail.”
The following warrants do not qualify for the program, according to the sheriff’s office:
—Felony warrants
—Any warrant involving violence (including all domestic violence warrants)
—Any warrant involving a firearm
—Any warrant involving resisting arrest
—Any warrant involving giving false information to an officer.
Individuals with these types of warrants are nonetheless encouraged to take this opportunity to turn themselves in so they can take care of their matter, authorities said.
Over the past 10 years, more than 2,800 people have taken advantage of Operation Second Chance by self-surrendering, according to authorities.
Anyone with questions about Operation Second Chance can contact the sheriff’s office at (408) 808-4717.
Individuals eligible for Operation Second Chance can turn themselves in at the following South County locations, or any police or sheriff’s office throughout the county:
—Sheriff’s Office South County Substation, 80 W. Highland Ave., San Martin
—Gilroy Police Department, 7301 Hanna Street, Gilroy
—Morgan Hill Police Department, 16200 Vineyard Blvd., Morgan Hill.
