Aurora Municipal Court in conjunction with the Aurora Public Defender will soon offer individuals with active warrants for certain non-violent crimes an opportunity to clear those warrants without facing arrest. *Please see a list of ineligible offenses below.
Aurora Fresh Start Week will take place on Dec. 8, 9, 11, and 12, giving community members with active warrants in Aurora Municipal Court the chance to have those warrants cancelled and cases reset simply by showing up.
The initiative is designed to help residents resolve outstanding issues while allowing law enforcement to focus resources on more serious offenders who perpetrate violent crimes that directly victimize others. The effort will not only benefit individuals seeking to move forward with their lives but also reduce taxpayer costs and promote a more efficient community.
Here is a summary of how Fresh Start Week works:
Who: Any individual with an active Aurora Municipal Court warrant in traffic, animal control, zoning and select criminal cases is eligible to clear their warrant without arrest. Individuals with active warrants for domestic violence and certain crimes involving violence or weapons are NOT eligible for this initiative.
What: People with eligible warrants must show up at the dates and times listed below. They can speak with a defense attorney from the Aurora Public Defender, appear before a judge and have their warrant cancelled. They may then set a new court date in their case or resolve it.
When: Warrants will be addressed during walk-in court on the afternoons of Dec. 8, 9, 11 and 12 between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Individuals must check in with Court Services or the Aurora Public Defender by 1 p.m. each day to ensure their case is on the docket for that day. Those who arrive after 1 p.m. will only have their cases added to that day’s docket if time permits.
Court will not be held on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Where: Walk-in court is held in Division 6 of the Aurora Municipal Court, 14999 E. Alameda Parkway.
Those who cannot make it to the courthouse can appear remotely with the help of the Aurora Public Defender. To take advantage of this service, defendants must meet with a defense attorney at the Aurora Mental Health and Recovery homeless services drop-in center at 1544 Elmira St. on Dec. 8, 9 or 11. The remote appearance option is not available on Dec. 12.
Interpreters will be available at both locations.
To register or ask about eligibility, email your first and last name, date of birth, and contact information to [email protected], call 303-739-6555 or visit the Aurora Public Defender in person. The office is located on the second floor of the Aurora Municipal Court and open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pre-registration for Fresh Start Week is strongly encouraged but not required.
Individuals can check if they have an active warrant by visiting court.auroragov.org/warrant.
*DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and the following crimes involving violence or weapons under the City Code are NOT ELIGIBLE for this initiative:
94-36 Assault
94-37 Battery
94-38 Reckless Endangerment
94-41 Menacing
94-110(a)(3) Disorderly Conduct – display of a weapon
94-144(a) Unlawful Concealment of Weapons
94-1455(a) Possessing an Illegal Weapon
94-147 Possession of Defaced Weapon
94-150 Possession Under the Influence