Louisville's amnesty dockets return with 2nd chance to resolve of nonviolent bench warrants

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- People in Louisville with outstanding bench warrants for low-level or nonviolent offenses have an opportunity to resolve their cases without fear of being arrested.

Three "amnesty dockets" will be offered Feb. 9, 10 and 12 in Jefferson District Court.

The ACLU of Kentucky, the Office of Metro Public Defenders and others announced the return of the program Monday. Approximately 450 people were able to clear active bench warrants during a similar effort in 2022.

Individuals interested must sign up online or at the Hall of Justice by Feb. 2 so that cases can be screened for qualification and those eligible notified of the date, time and courtroom to appear. The number of cases that can be heard is limited, but if there is enough public response, additional dockets may be considered in the future.

Individuals may sign up at www.louisvilleprosecutors.org/redocket and must appear in person on their redocketed court date in February, as warrants will not be recalled until the person appears. The following offenses do not qualify to be on the amnesty docket:

Violent misdemeanor or violent Class D Felony
Any domestic violence offense
Any case that involves a gun
Class A, B or C Felonies

Courts will continue issue bench warrants and authorities will continue to act on existing warrant during the amnesty docket. So anyone with a warrant who does not qualify is encouraged to contact an attorney or go to the Hall of Justice (600 W. Main St.) and see a case manager to schedule a court date.

During the amnesty dockets in 2022, the ACLU, community partners and donors helped raise nearly $300,000 to help clear debts in cases where a bench warrant remained due to restitution still being owed to a victim.

The amnesty dockets followed an effort by the County Attorney’s, District Court judges and the office of the Circuit Court Clerk to dismiss bench warrants five years old or more that meet these same criteria in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After several months, the effort purged nearly 12,000 open cases that were nonviolent and did not involve victim restitution.

The office of Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell and the ACLU of Kentucky have led the amnesty docket program along with public officials including the offices of Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson, Jefferson District Chief Judge Jessica Moore and Chief Court Administrator McKay Chauvin, Sheriff John Aubrey, Commonwealth Attorney Gerina Whethers, Chief Public Defender Leo Smith, the private criminal defense bar and other community partners, including the Louisville Urban League, Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice, Black Lives Matter Louisville, The Bail Project, and more.

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