The crowd near First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa told a story of transformation — restlessness and apprehension eventually overcome by respite and relief.
For one day this past April, that was the change a small group of Blackburn Institute students set out to create as part of their Daniel Community Scholars (DCS) project.
There are more than 15,000 outstanding warrants in Tuscaloosa County. The majority of those are issued for low-level offenses — missed court dates, unpaid traffic violations and other unpaid fines. While minor, those unresolved issues can uproot lives and result in unnecessary conflict throughout the community.
With the help of municipal courts and local leaders, Destiney Crawford, JB Foster, Woods Hobbs, Madeline Martin and Jai Raines organized a one-day warrant clinic on April 18. Designed to provide a path of resolution without fear of immediate repercussions, the clinic served 98 residents, including 62 walk-ins. While those numbers are impressive, members of the DCS team believe the event’s impact is better measured by the comfort and resolution it provided to its participants.
“Getting to see it come to fruition and seeing the lives of people actually changed was amazing,” said Woods, a rising senior majoring in political science and legal history. “There was so much gratitude. Reading through some of the responses people left behind, people would tell us, ‘I don’t feel ashamed anymore,’ or ‘I feel like my life can finally get back on track.’
“That was really when it hit me. I was like, ‘Wow, we’re actually doing something tangible, and we’re making a difference in our community.’”
Focusing on inclusivity, the DCS team chose to host the clinic at First Baptist Church in downtown Tuscaloosa due to its proximity to public transportation. In addition, food and childcare were available for those in attendance.
Despite the amenities and welcoming environment, the event was met with some apprehension from those fearing judgment and retribution for their outstanding warrants. In those cases, team members spoke with individuals, easing their nerves by assuring them they were walking into a safe environment without risk of arrest or jail time.
“Just talking to people like people and treating people the way you would like to be treated,” said J.B., a rising senior majoring in anthropology. “That’s really what it was, just being normal with people. It was as calm as it could be, and it was nice to see people weren’t as on edge after a while.”
Jai, a rising senior majoring in creative advertising, was drawn to the project after serving at a similar clinic last year in Selma, Alabama. Working the doors during this year’s event, she was touched by the transformation participants displayed upon having their issues resolved.
“Watching someone arrive tense and uncertain, then leave with relief, clarity, or simply the sense that someone was willing to help them navigate the system, it reminded me why this work matters so much to me,” Jai said.
“Sometimes the most powerful thing you can offer another person is not a solution but the feeling that they do not have to carry something alone.”
Planning and research for this year’s clinic began in May of 2025. Along with tireless work from the DCS team, the event was made possible through partnership with the University of Alabama School of Law, the City of Tuscaloosa Municipal Court and the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
“I was just always blown away of being able to be in a group effort where everyone is pulling their own weight and everyone is doing their own thing,” said Madeline, who earned her Juris Doctorate from UA in May. “I think having that passion and that drive of we are going to get this done no matter what was important. It is so refreshing to be in a group effort where everyone wants to be there, cares to be there, and wants it to be successful.”
Named in honor of Dr. John L. Blackburn, the Blackburn Institute is a leadership development and civic engagement program at UA, specifically focused on improving the state. Students are selected into the program each spring semester and participate in a one-year curriculum that introduces them to the institute’s community and values while providing them with the necessary skills and resources to create a positive change in the community.
This year’s warrant clinic and other Blackburn student-led initiatives are made possible through an endowment by The Daniel Foundation of Alabama. Members of this year’s DCS are planning to reapply for funding to set up similar warrant programs in the coming year. In addition, they are exploring long-term ways to sustain the effort through other funding sources to leave a lasting impact at the Capstone and in the community.
“One of the clearest things this clinic revealed was how many people are navigating these challenges quietly and how much changes when support feels accessible rather than intimidating,” Jai said. “We learned a great deal this year about trust, outreach, and the importance of meeting people where they are. If anything, the clinic made it difficult to ignore how necessary this work really is. Our hope is to keep building on what this clinic started so more people can access resources, information, and support without fear standing in the way.”
