Those with outstanding warrants can check them off their to-do lists and ease their minds during 2023 Texas Court Case Resolution Campaign Week, March 19-25.

“Beginning Feb. 27, individuals can expect to see public service advertisements and receive contact from Courts regarding the campaign. Agencies will step up efforts to actively resolve outstanding cases beginning March 19,” according to a press release.

The Bailey County Justice of the Peace office would like to see people take advantage of Court Case Resolution Week.

“We have a large backlog of outstanding warrants. I’m estimating around 500 to 600 from 2015 till current,” said Joann Ramirez, administrative assistant to Justice of the Peace Rodney Baker. “Most of them are traffic fines, and all of them are Class C misdemeanors.”

The purpose of the court case resolution campaign is to give notice to people of the opportunity without sending agents to them.

“It’s collection agencies and courts working together to help people be aware that they can take care of these outstanding tickets,” Ramirez said.

Those who receive the notification can contact the collection agency that sent the notice with the number shown the card, call Brandon Perdue at 806-775-5550 or call the Justice of the Peace at 806-272-4300.

The press release advises that under Texas Law, individuals appearing before a court and making a good faith effort to resolve outstanding Class C cases are afforded safe harbor and are not subject to arrest.

Also, if a judgment is rendered against an individual who is unable to pay the judgment, the individual may request a judge to assess their ability to pay and offer alternative means to satisfy the judgment.

“If they do not have the means of payment, they can work out payment plans or community service,” Ramirez said. “It’s a step forward, a means of trying to work with people rather than have a warrant issued out.”

Justice of the Peace Rodney Baker said resolving the outstanding cases might generate some money for the court. More importantly, it might help some people gain peace of mind by clearing their court case.

“If somebody sees the notice, it might soak in and help people to get there,” he said.