The Sherwood District Court and the Sherwood Hot Check Division will be offering an amnesty program for people with outstanding traffic, criminal and/or hot check fines beginning Feb. 15, and running through April 30.
According to a news release, the program offers people the opportunity to pay outstanding fines and court costs without being arrested and spending any time in jail.
When Jefferson county District Judge Kim Bridgforth announced a new hot check collection program several months ago, she said the Sherwood District Court handles all hot check violations for Pulaski County.
The news release said the program represents an opportunity for people who have gotten behind on their fines and costs payments, regardless of the reason, and have not gone to the sheriff’s office or police department to pay those fines out of fear of being arrested. People who take advantage of the program will not be arrested, there will be no additional court costs because of a non-payment warrant, and they will not be required to appear before the District Court Judge.
Additionally, if a person’s drivers license has been suspended because of a non-payment warrant, it will be immediately reinstated, though people may be required to pay a reinstatement fee with the State Driver Control Office. Also, Arkansas State Income Tax refunds will not be intercepted to pay outstanding fines and costs if people pay through the amnesty program before their tax refund has been issued.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
According to the news release, people who have fines and court costs of less than $1,200 will be required to pay their balance in full, while those with a balance of more than $1,200 will be required to pay up to the $1,200 level, and start to pay the balance in monthly installments.
To take advantage of the amnesty program, people should contact the Sherwood District Clerk’s Office at (501) 835-3693 or the Sherwood District Court Hot Check Division at (501) 835-3693 to inquire about their balance and see if they qualify.’
People who don’t take advantage of the amnesty program will have their names and photos listed on a city/county website that is currently being developed in Pulaski County, and they may also appear in newspapers and on television.
According to the news release, there is currently more than $1 million that is owed to the city, county and state in outstanding fines and court costs, with some of those funds being owed to victims of crimes.