THE BRONX — More than 350 warrants for low-level crimes like loitering and drinking in public were cleared on Saturday at an event in The Bronx, according to the borough's District Attorney's office.
The event, called "Another Chance," was held at 55 E. 175th St. in the Mount Hope Community Center and was meant to give people a chance to clear their records of low-level crimes without getting arrested.
A total of 355 warrants were cleared for 270 people, many of which involved crimes like trespassing or public consumption of alcohol, according to Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.
"The people who walked out of the Mount Hope Community Center...can look ahead to a bright future instead of looking over their shoulders because they have an outstanding warrant,” she said in a statement.
Two judges presided over a mobile courtroom at the event, and people also attended a resources fair to get information on jobs, social services and health care.
The event was held in collaboration with the Legal Aid Society and the group's Attorney-at-Large for Bronx Criminal Practice Peter Jones said in a statement that clearing such warrants will help people with issues like housing and jobs.
"Outstanding warrants are a real impediment to people in the community, even on low level infractions," he said.
"They create impediments to housing and employment and often create immigration issues. The opportunity to come in and quickly and easily resolve them creates a more inclusive environment.”
