Pine Bluff, Arkansas – Jefferson County officials are once again giving qualifying individuals an opportunity to address outstanding court obligations through a limited Amnesty Week program that has been offered through cooperation between the county court and law enforcement for nearly a decade.
Jefferson County District Court Division I Judge Kim Bridgforth and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are working together on the initiative, which is designed to help eligible people resolve certain court matters in an organized way. This year’s Jefferson County Amnesty Week will begin Monday, August 24, and continue through Friday, August 28.
The program focuses on accountability while also giving qualifying participants a way to return to court and deal with unresolved obligations. Officials say the effort can reduce barriers that sometimes prevent people from complying with court orders while also helping the justice system deal with outstanding warrants.
Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. stressed the importance of people voluntarily addressing their legal responsibilities.
“Public safety is strengthened when individuals voluntarily take responsibility for resolving their legal obligations,” said Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. “Amnesty Week provides a meaningful opportunity for eligible individuals to come before the court, address outstanding matters and begin moving forward. We appreciate Judge Bridgforth and all of our justice system partners for their continued commitment to making this program a success.”
Registration must be completed before August 19 deadline
Amnesty Week allows eligible individuals to appear before the court without the immediate execution of certain qualifying warrants, as long as all requirements of the program are followed. At the same time, the initiative gives the court another way to reduce its outstanding warrant caseload and encourage people to follow judicial orders over the long term.
Participation, however, is not automatic. Anyone interested in taking advantage of the program must first call Jefferson County District Court and request to be placed on the Amnesty Docket.
Calls must be made between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and registration must be completed no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Those accepted into the program must appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on their assigned date. Participants are expected to arrive on time. Officials warn that late arrivals cannot be accommodated and will not be rescheduled.
Space is another important consideration. The number of participants is limited because only a certain amount of docket space is available. Additionally, anyone who previously participated in the Amnesty Program but failed to follow its requirements is not eligible to participate again.
Officials are also making clear that registering for Amnesty Week does not immediately eliminate an outstanding warrant. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized this condition in its announcement:
Outstanding warrants will NOT be recalled until the defendant physically appears before the court as scheduled.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging qualifying individuals to use the limited opportunity to resolve eligible court matters before they potentially face enforcement action at a later time.
People seeking to register or obtain additional information can contact Jefferson County District Court Division I, led by Judge Kim Bridgforth, at 223 East 3rd Avenue in Pine Bluff. The court can be reached by phone at (870) 541-4646.
