Safe Surrender
“I don’t believe I would still be in here if I had done the right thing and not continued to run.”
– HCJC Youth Detention Center resident
Beginning in 2024, Hamilton County Juvenile Court launched a Safe Surrender initiative for juveniles with outstanding warrants. Safe Surrender is a creative, and proven program that encourages people with felony or misdemeanor warrants to voluntarily surrender to the law. An outstanding warrant can limit options for a young person, making it difficult, if not impossible, to go to school, get a job, or rent an apartment. It also puts undue stress and limitations on family members.
While anyone with an outstanding warrant may, and is encouraged to, come to Court or to a police station anytime to turn themselves in, Safe Surrender allows juveniles to proactively face and resolve their charges. Immediate release is not guaranteed however taking this step positions young people to positively resolve their case and move forward, free of the limitations that come with an outstanding warrant.
Safe Surrender days are scheduled several times per year at Hamilton County Juvenile Court. On those days, additional Court personnel, Spanish interpreters, bus tokens, and snacks are readily available to streamline the process.
To date, Safe Surrender Days have resulted in recalling 180 warrants for 84 individuals.
The next scheduled Safe Surrender Day is:
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
800 Broadway
“Don’t let your past dictate your future. If you made a mistake as a juvenile let the Court help you resolve the issue. Do the right thing for yourself, your family and your future.”
– Kari Bloom, Hamilton County Juvenile Court Administrative Judge
Not addressing charges will not make them go away.
Contact Juvenile Court with questions at 513-946-9417 or 513-946-9461 with questions about Safe Surrender.