NM public defenders offer ‘safe space’ for warrant resolution

The state public defender’s office is looking to help people with outstanding arrest warrants straighten them out.

A team of attorneys from the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender will host a “warrant workshop” Thursday, Oct. 3, at the International District Library. They will be helping resolve arrest warrants from Bernalillo County.

“This is a safe space for our clients,” Albuquerque District Defender Dennica Torres said in a news release. “There’s no fear of arrest. They can bring their phones, which they can’t do when they go to court, and we’ll have a team ready to help them figure out their situation.”

Maggie Shepard, a spokesperson for the Law Offices of the Public Defender, said defenders and prosecutors will will assess each case and try to get clients back in compliance with conditions of release and cancel their warrants.

“Depending on the type of case and individual circumstances, the DAs office may be able to offer potential resolutions to the case,” Shepard said.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Refreshments, toiletries and essential item kits will also be available.

The county will have certified support workers and case managers on-site to assist clients, along with transportation to connect them to other community resources.

Visitors will also be able to meet with staff from State of the Heart Recovery, Youth Development Inc. and the University of New Mexico Office for  Community Health to learn about case management, behavioral health care,  substance use treatment and other services.

The office has hosted three rounds of workshops in the last year and plans to have at least one more round, Shepard said.

Anyone interested in more information can call 505-219-2868 or text 505-525-7045. Those numbers can also be used to check whether someone has an active warrant.

Warrant Workshop

WHERE: International District Library, 7601 Central Ave NE

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

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