[POLICETRIBUNE] Newark police have been ordered to let most suspects walk free it they have warrants with under $500 bail.Under a new policy implemented on April 25, Newark police will no longer be allowed to arrest suspects who have outstanding, non-indictable warrants under $500, with the exception of those pertaining to domestic violence incidents, according to a City of Newark blurb.
Officers will still be allowed to stop people who have outstanding bench or traffic warrants under the $500 threshold, but only to make sure they are aware they have a warrant and to let them know how to resolve it, Newark Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara said in the release.
Once they’ve been made aware, they will be allowed to walk away.
"The last thing people need right now is to lose time from their jobs and families for these minor offenses," O’Hara opined.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the aim of the new policy is to make it easier on alleged offenders.
The city wants to "lessen [offenders’] burdens, not make them worse," especially during the pandemic, Baraka said.
"We’re not excusing those outstanding warrants; we’re simply extending the appropriate courtesy called for during this pandemic," he wrote. "I believe it is especially critical that we reduce the possibility of people having negative encounters with police over such minor offenses."