Pennsylvania parole absconders will be given an 11-day window to voluntarily turn themselves beginning next week to receive a better chance of staying out of prison.

The state Department of Corrections and the Parole Board on Tuesday announced a statewide Safe Return Initiative. The program will be offered Aug. 24 to Sept. 4, and eligible parolees can report to the closest parole office to reestablish compliance with parole supervision staff with the potential for more favorable consideration.

“Anyone with an active state parole warrant can surrender during the statewide Safe Return initiative,” said Christian Stephens, deputy secretary for parole field services. “Because people will be voluntarily surrendering, they’ll most likely receive more favorable consideration regarding their warrants than if they were otherwise stopped and arrested.”

Corrections Department spokeswoman Maria Finn said a similar offer was made to parole violators three years ago in Dauphin County, and that program was deemed a success.

In 2017, Operation Safe Return in Dauphin County had more than 700 people turn themselves in to law enforcement and 5,340 warrants processed over three days.

Due to covid-19, many parolees have dropped out of supervision due to the loss of housing or fear of returning to a state correctional institution or community corrections center during the health crisis, state parole officials said.

“It is our goal to encourage those re-entrants to turn themselves in so that they can come back into compliance with state parole supervision without fear of being returned to a state prison,” Stephens said.

In addition, operation Safe Return will include specialized services for those in need of help with unpaid fines or drug addiction.

There are 1,871 parolees, or 4.5% of the total parolee population of more than 41,500, classified as absconders. Safe Return aims to keep those absconders out of prison and enter “a stable, supportive environment,” Stephens said.

Those who surrender during Safe Return weeks will be processed through an expedited process.

The Department of Corrections noted that its goal is to divert people back into the community and each case will be evaluated on an individual basis.

If a parolee has an outstanding warrant from a jurisdiction other than the state Parole Board, it could cause in the parolee’s detention.

More information about operation Safe Return can be found on the website: https://www.cor.pa.gov/parole-supervision/Pages/Safe-Return.aspx

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