Do you have an active bench warrant? You can get it cleared! The Jefferson County Attorney is offering an amnesty period for people with an active bench warrant to have their warrant set aside and reschedule their case. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2022.
The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office has scheduled an amnesty docket. This means Kentuckians with a bench warrant (a warrant issued from the judge’s bench), most often for failure to appear in court, can apply to have their warrant set aside and reschedule their case. The deadline to apply for amnesty is Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The dates for amnesty hearings are June 7, 8, and 9 at 1PM ET.
What does “redocket” mean?
The docket is the list of cases to be heard in court. For amnesty, a person with an existing bench warrant can ask that their case be placed on the docket and their bench warrant set aside, which means they will not be arrested for failing to appear in court.
Who is eligible?
Kentuckians with a bench warrant from Jefferson County District Court for a non-violent offense and class D non-violent felony offenses. All people with this type of bench warrant from Jefferson County are eligible, whether or not they live in Jefferson County.
How do you apply?
Click below to apply or visit LouisvilleProsecutors.org/Redocket to apply.
Questions? Call 502-272-0056.
What if I owe restitution?
There are funds available to help individuals who owe restitution with payment! Watch this page for information on help with restitution related to bench warrants.
Does it cost any money to apply for amnesty?
There is no cost associated with applying for the amnesty docket. There may be costs related to restitution, fines, or fees in your case. See above for more information about assistance paying restitution, fines, and fees.
Do I need a state-issued ID?
No, you do not need an ID to redocket or appear in court.
Can I bring my kids?
Childcare is not available for court appearances.
Help us spread the word!
We need your help spreading the word so all people who are eligible for amnesty learn about this opportunity. Click below to download and print a flyer in English and Spanish and share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Louisville community groups have long advocated for an amnesty period. This action is urgently needed after eight people died in roughly the last six months in jails run by Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. Last fall, the ACLU of Kentucky came together with several other groups, including the Louisville Urban League, the Coalition for the Homeless, The Bail Project, Black Lives Matter Louisville, the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression, and Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice, to urge local officials to adopt community-based solutions. The group identified clearing bench warrants as one of many actions that could reduce deadly incarceration rates and reduce the number of unresolved cases in our courts.
Clearing bench warrants and giving people the opportunity to close their cases will reduce incarceration and save lives. Bench warrants are typically issued after a person does not appear for a scheduled court appearance or does not pay fines, fees, or restitution. Many people miss court dates because of barriers to transportation, childcare, time off work, and more. When a person has an active bench warrant, police are authorized to arrest them if they come into contact with the person. That means getting pulled over for speeding could lead to an arrest and incarceration.
On a personal level, this amnesty period will allow people with certain active bench warrants to reschedule their hearings and close their case. This will allow them to live without the threat of immediate arrest should they come into contact with law enforcement. On a broader scale, clearing these bench warrants will reduce incarceration rates and alleviate deadly overcrowding in jails run by Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
