Jury Duty Questionnaire Reminders Being Sent Out

If not returned, a Sheriff's deputy "house call" will be the next follow up communication in compliance with State law

By Denise Rivette

The following was released on the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office social media:

It's that time of the year again when all the courts are busy compiling lists of citizens who have been selected to be part of the jury pool. If you have received papers from the courts requesting a questionnaire be filled out and returned to the courts, please fill it out and return it as requested. These must be filled out and if they are not a deputy will have to make a "house call" to personally deliver another questionnaire from the courts. We know you are as busy as we are so we would appreciate not having to come see you personally.

In June, when the initial letters were sent out by Carbon County, the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) announced receiving reports of fraudsters, posing as law enforcement, attempting to scam unsuspecting Montanans out of thousands of dollars by calling individuals claiming there is a warrant for their arrest because they missed jury duty.

OCP encourages Montanans who are targeted by these scammers to hang up the phone and report it to investigators using the online reporting form here or by calling (800) 481-6896 or (406) 444-4500. To avoid falling victim to the scam, look out for the following red flags:

• Law enforcement doesn’t phone you if there is a warrant for your arrest;

• Law enforcement/courts don’t take payment in the form of bitcoin;

• They do not threaten incarceration;

• They do not tell people to not speak to anyone or tell anyone they have been contacted in relation to jury service.