Statewide safe surrender event to be held in Las Cruces this weekend

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) – People with outstanding bench warrants from any magistrate court in New Mexico can get a “fresh start” and safely surrender at the Doña Ana County Magistrate Courthouse, 110 Calle Alegra, in Las Cruces this weekend.

The event will occur from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, according to a news release sent by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

“Safe Surrender events like this one in Las Cruces present an excellent opportunity for individuals with outstanding warrants to seek resolution, said Administrative Office of the Courts Director Karl Reifsteck. “After Santa Fe’s safe surrender event last spring alone, 626 cases no longer have active warrants.”

The event allows anyone with outstanding warrants an opportunity to avoid jail and other consequences by appearing before a judge, according to the news release.

At the time of surrender, anyone who appears voluntarily will receive “favorable consideration” when requesting a new court date, payment plan, or any other option required to comply with the court order.

Through safe surrender events from June 2023 to April 2024, warrants were resolved in 2,022 cases, according to the news release.

The Administrative Office of the Courts said a judge issues a bench warrant when a defendant violates requirements imposed by a court, such as appearing at hearings scheduled in a case.

If you are unsure whether you have an outstanding bench warrant, call the toll-free warrant hotline at 855-268-7804 or check online case lookup at nmcourts.gov .

The Third Judicial District serves people in Doña Ana County. For more information about the Third Judicial District, visit thirddistrict.nmcourts.gov .

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