Hugs, tears, laughter, and joy.  This is not the typical experience for most involved in the court system, but this is exactly what was seen during between July and September for hundreds of individuals in Douglas County State Court.  “Amnesty Summer,” presented by Solicitor-General Matthew Krull, has been deemed a great success.  Hundreds of individuals with open cases in Douglas County State Court were able to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the Solicitor, and with a little help, are now able to get their lives back on track.

During the months of July, August, and September, individuals with unpaid traffic citations or unresolved bench warrants were allowed to resolve those matters, with fees waived and other incentives, so they could get their licenses back and not worry about the potential for getting arrested on a warrant.  Krull explained that this simple act of amnesty will allow many Douglas County citizens the opportunity to drive again, which he hopes will lead to a better life.  “We all know in today’s world you’ve got to drive, there’s no way around it, so if I can help someone get a license, I know I’m giving them a tool to get a job, a better job, an education, or countless other opportunities.”

The numbers of individuals helped, Krull explained, was in the hundreds.  “Tammy Howard’s office was instrumental in making this happen, and a significant number of people were able to pay off old citations by simply walking in to the clerk’s office or sending a money order.”  This, explained Krull, would put them in a position to go to Driver’s Services and reinstate their license.  Additionally, over one hundred people took the opportunity to come to court and speak with Mr. Krull or one of his assistants.  “We were able to help these people out the most by giving their cases individualized attention and walking them through the process of either getting a license back or resolving an old case.”

Krull explained this was one of the most satisfying experiences he’s had as a prosecutor.  “Sitting and talking to these people, understanding their problems, and being able to set them on track towards success is something I won’t forget for a long time.”  “People came in feeling unsure about the court system and what was going to happen, and they left feeling like human beings who were cared for, not just a number on a docket.”   “And I’ll never forget about all the tears of joy and all of the hugs…it’s something I’ll treasure for the rest of my career.”