Southaven Amnesty Program Keeps Court Busy

(Southaven, MS) Southaven’s court amnesty program started this week, and since word got out, a steady stream of people ave showed up to settle old problems.

Justin Williams showed up to settle an old fine and said it’s the right thing to do, ”I think it’s a good idea to pay the fines. I mean if you do the crime, you gotta pay the fine”.

But in Southaven, more than 1800 people haven’t paid.

The amnesty program brought about a third of them in so far, clearing about 500 warrants off the court docket so far.

Judge B.G. Perry says those with outstanding fines have nothing to fear by taking advantage of the amnesty deals, ”If they come, they’re not gonna be arrested, unless they commit a crime right on the spot.”

He says people are coming forward from all over the country, ”A man from Michigan came down and paid his fines and I freed him of all his problems.”

That’s because outstanding warrants can people from jobs and schools.

Southaven will even work out a payment plan, which is what Justin Williamson found so appealing, ”If you’re in a situation where you can’t pay all of it, there should be a way that you can arrange a payment plan so I think it’s a pretty good idea.”

There’s one more week to go for these deals.

The amnesty program ends Tuesday night at 8.