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Helping defendants save the court date

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By LISA A. DAVIS

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE

Published: September 10, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - A date with court is one that shouldn't be broken.

If a defendant doesn't show when he's expected in court, it's a crime, and when a warrant is issued for his arrest it's a deputy's job to get him - again.

This time, because of the failure to appear charge, the defendant is going to spend time in jail, which can add to overpopulation and costs about $63 per inmate a day. By Florida statute, a person who doesn't show for court is not eligible for release without bail, because that requires a promise to show up for future court hearings.

The process, sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll said, wastes manpower and other resources.

"If we can somehow reduce this a little bit, that's a big help," he said.

In an effort to do just that, the sheriff's office in May began using volunteers to remind people of upcoming court dates.

"Thirty percent of the people don't have an idea when their court date is," said Lt. Dennis Kingsley, who heads jail inmate processing.

In 2007, Pasco County deputies made arrests on 4,177 charges of failure to appear in court. Some defendants don't bother to show for court, and others don't have a clue when they're supposed to be there.

The reasons vary as to why people don't know about their date with a judge, but many people move and don't change their address with the clerk of court, so they never get the mailed notice, Kingsley said.

On weekdays, a handful of volunteers converge on the Land O' Lakes Jail and start working their way through a list of 300 to 500 names, calling with a friendly reminder.

For the most part, people are receptive, thanking volunteers for the call and saying they had no idea they were due in court.

"It feels good to know that you're helping someone," said volunteer Salimah Space, 32, of Hudson.

Out of the hundreds of people she has called in the past few months, she only recalls a couple who have been rude.

"Well, thanks for babysitting," one man snapped at her.

Mary Ann Schweitzer, 65, a retiree from New Port Richey, enjoys helping the community.

"It's interesting work," she said. "The people are receptive. I haven't had anyone upset that I called."

Schweitzer said volunteer programs such as this one help keep deputies on task.

"The more hours that the volunteers spend doing these clerical jobs, the more hours it frees up deputies doing their jobs," she said.

More volunteers are needed. To volunteer, contact the sheriff's office human resources department at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7791.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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