Transcript of Interview With Offender Who Participated in Fugitive Safe Surrender, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 25-28, 2007

(Interview conducted by Leonard Sipes, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency).

SIPES: OK, let’s see, I’m recording now. Why did you decide…here are the microphones, by the way, the microphones are in my ears. Why did you decide to come in and…uh…go through the Fugitive Safe Surrender process?

OFFENDER: Because I felt like it was a good process for people to get…to turn their lives around and get straight.

SIPES: OK. But were you skeptical about coming in?

OFFENDER: Yeah, I was skeptical at first, but I would rather come and turn myself in at a church before I turn myself in, you know, downtown.

SIPES: So the whole idea was doing it in a church? That was the thing that…that persuaded you to do it?

OFFENDER: Yeah.

SIPES: Alright. Do…do…how long have you had a warrant?

OFFENDER: Uh…like, two months.

SIPES: OK. Can I ask what the warrant was for?

OFFENDER: Uh…marijuana.

SIPES: OK. So you decided to come down…where…where did you hear the ads? Where did you…

OFFENDER: On TV.

SIPES: OK. So you saw this on television and you decided to participate in it?

OFFENDER: Yeah.

SIPES: Did anybody talk to you about it or did you make this decision entirely on your own?

OFFENDER: My mom.

SIPES: OK. And what would you say to people in the District of Columbia who have warrants? What would you suggest to them?

OFFENDER: Uh…well, I had a misdemeanor so…

SIPES: Right.

OFFENDER: If I…you got a misdemeanor, I’d turn myself in.

SIPES: OK. Thank you very much.

OFFENDER: Alright. Thank you.

SIPES: I appreciate your time.