How Franklin County Is Turning Outstanding Warrants into Open Doors
By Joy Bivens, Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County, Ohio
For many residents, an outstanding misdemeanor warrant is not the result of serious criminal behavior. It often traces back to something far more ordinary, a missed court appearance, an unpaid fine, or a notice that never arrived in the mail.
Yet that single unresolved issue can quietly close doors: to employment, to housing, to legally driving to work or school. It can also pull individuals deeper into the justice system at significant cost to them as well as the local government system.
In Franklin County, Ohio, leaders asked a simple question: What if resolving low-level warrants were easier, safer, and less expensive for everyone?
The result is the Tap in Center, a monthly, appointment-based initiative that allows residents with eligible non-violent misdemeanor warrants to resolve their cases without fear of arrest. Launched in fall 2024, the program reflects a growing shift among counties toward practical, community-based justice strategies that reduce system strain while strengthening public trust.
From Conference Idea to Local Implementation
Commissioner Erica C. Crawley first encountered the model at the 2024 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference. After visiting St. Louis County, which had implemented a similar program, she returned home convinced Franklin County could adapt the concept for its own community.
“This isn’t about punishment,” Crawley said. “It’s about accountability, dignity, and giving people a real opportunity to move forward.”
Under the leadership of the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs, the county worked with its Municipal Court, Public Defender’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, and other partners to design a localized version. The aim was straightforward: resolve low-level warrants efficiently while connecting participants to stabilizing services.
Why Location Matters
A defining feature of the Tap in Center is where it operates. Sessions are held at branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library rather than at courthouses.
The decision was deliberate.
For many individuals, walking into a courthouse with an outstanding warrant can trigger fear and avoidance. Libraries, by contrast, are familiar and trusted civic spaces. They reduce psychological barriers and signal that the event is designed to help, not punish.
Sessions run in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working residents. Participants must call ahead to confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment. The program is limited to non-violent, low-level misdemeanor and traffic cases in Franklin County Municipal Court. While felonies and violent offenses are currently excluded, stakeholders are actively exploring whether low-level, non-violent felony warrants could be incorporated going forward.
At the event, attorneys work to recall warrants and reschedule cases. The no-arrest policy for eligible participants is explicit, and foundational. Without it, participation would be compromised.
A One-Stop Approach
The Tap in Center is structured as more than a warrant-clearing program. It functions as a coordinated service hub.
Alongside court representatives and defense attorneys, residents can connect with Child Support Enforcement, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, and Job and Family Services. Community organizations, including Make a Day, Hope Dealers, and Mt. Carmel Homeless Outreach further extend the Center's reach, providing on-site food trucks and transportation to remove barriers for at-risk residents, including those experiencing homelessness. Together, these partners offer assistance with driver's license reinstatement, benefit applications, child support questions, and, when eligible, record sealing or expungement — all at no cost.
“An unresolved warrant can quietly erode opportunity,” Crawley said. “Resolving it can open doors almost immediately.”
This integrated approach reflects a core insight: a missed court date is often a symptom of instability, not criminal intent. Addressing the legal issue without addressing related barriers limits long-term impact.
A Resident’s Experience
Mike Scarberry experienced that dynamic firsthand.
While in recovery and working to rebuild his life, he had a non-violent warrant that created constant uncertainty. Every traffic stop felt risky; every job application was complicated. He was hesitant to attend, reluctant at what he was walking into.
“I was nervous,” Scarberry said. “From my experience, you know what warrants mean.”
But after hearing from someone he trusted, he scheduled an appointment. At the event, his warrant was lifted and his case was dismissed in a single visit. He also connected with county agencies to address a child support issue and begin the process of reinstating his driver’s license. Today, he is employed and owns his own car.
“It’s safe,” he said. “If something from your past is blocking you, just go.”
For counties seeking to rebuild trust in justice systems, testimonials like Scarberry’s often carry more influence than formal outreach campaigns.
The Fiscal and System Case
The Tap in Center aligns with what Franklin County calls a “smart justice” framework, strategies designed to reduce recidivism, limit unnecessary incarceration, and lower system costs.
The alternative to proactive resolution is costly. Arresting someone on a low-level warrant consumes law enforcement time, jail capacity, court resources, and public defender staff hours. It can destabilize employment and housing, increasing the likelihood of future system involvement.
By contrast, recalling warrants in a structured community setting reduces administrative burden and preserves public safety resources for higher-risk cases. It also addresses court backlogs of outstanding warrants more efficiently.
Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce emphasized the long-term perspective: “Reducing recidivism and finding solutions for justice-involved residents has long been a priority for Franklin County. The Tap in Center supports residents who may not even realize they have an outstanding court order.”
The initiative is funded through a federal Justice Assistance Grant, a flexible funding stream often used for evidence-based justice innovations. In Franklin County, that same grant also supports respite housing and fatherhood programming, reinforcing a coordinated strategy rather than isolated interventions.
Replication Considerations for Counties
The Tap in Center model offers several practical lessons for local governments considering replication:
Leverage trusted infrastructure. Community spaces like libraries or recreation centers lower participation barriers and signal that the program is designed to help, not punish.
Make eligibility and guarantees explicit. A transparent no-arrest policy for qualifying participants is essential to building trust and driving turnout.
Coordinate across agencies. Legal resolution alone rarely stabilizes residents. Integrating workforce, licensing, child support, and benefits services increases long-term impact.
Use existing grant streams. Justice Assistance Grants and similar federal funding can provide startup support without requiring new local revenue.
Secure judicial partnership. Courts and stakeholders must be willing to recall warrants outside traditional courtroom settings. Without that cooperation, the model cannot function.
A Broader Shift in County Governance
Franklin County has framed much of its policy agenda around expanding opportunity, in workforce development, housing, and economic mobility. The Tap in Center extends that framework into the justice system.
Commissioner John O’Grady summarized the philosophy: “This initiative provides a compassionate pathway to resolve legal issues, opening doors to employment, education, and housing. It empowers individuals to make positive contributions.”
At its core, the Tap in Center reflects a reframing of low-level warrants. Rather than treating them solely as enforcement matters, the county views them as solvable administrative barriers, barriers that, once removed, allow residents to participate more fully in the local economy and civic life.
The premise is straightforward: reduce fear, increase access, and people will show up to resolve their obligations. When they do, the government must be prepared to respond with efficiency and respect.
Early results suggest that approach is working. Since launching in fall 2024, approximately 95% of participants seeking a warrant set-aside through the Tap in Center have been successfully accommodated — a meaningful signal for residents seeking stability and for a justice system working to reduce warrant backlogs without expanding incarceration.
For counties nationwide confronting similar challenges, Franklin County’s experience offers a replicable model grounded in partnership, practicality, and measurable system benefit.
Author: Joy Bivens serves as Deputy County Administrator for Franklin County, Ohio, overseeing the Board of Commissioners' health and human services agencies, including Job and Family Services, the Office on Aging, Child Support Enforcement, and Justice Policy and Programs. She began her Franklin County career as a JFS case manager in 2004, later founding a home healthcare administration agency before returning to the county in 2015. She was appointed JFS Director in 2016 before assuming her current role. Bivens holds leadership positions with the National Association of Counties and the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association and is a graduate of Capital University.