The State Court Administrative Office has announced that nearly $14 million has been awarded to 122 courts statewide — several of them in Macomb Couny — to fund the operation of drug, DWI, mental health and veterans treatment court programs.
“These grant programs help problem-solving courts continue to do what they do best: save lives, save money, strengthen families, and build stronger communities,” said Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. “But what is even more important is the leadership provided by judges who are passionate about making a difference and committed to investing the time and effort needed to turn lives around.”
The drug court program operated by Macomb County Circuit Court was among those receiving grants along with drug programs exist in 37th District Cout in Warren, 39th District Court in Roseville and Fraser, and 41B District Court in Clinton Township.
The Mental Health Court program and Veterans Treatment Court programs operating in Macomb County Circuit Court received grants as well.
Such courts closely supervise offenders who are required to enroll in treatment programs and be drug tested regularly. Extensive follow-up analysis shows that participants in these courts are far less likely to reoffend.
Michigan was the first state court system to establish regionalized DWI courts and the second to establish regionalized mental health courts.
Regionalized courts include two or more counties — or courts — crossing jurisdictional lines to provide treatment services to offenders under strict court supervision.
“By regionalizing these courts, we increase access and improve efficiency,” said Young.
The MSC Problem-Solving Court report — Solving Problems, Saving Live — shows that in 2014:
• Two years after admission to any type of drug court, graduates were 56 percent less likely to be convicted of any new offense.
• Participants in sobriety courts and adult district drug courts were 75 percent less likely to be convicted of any new offense after two years.
• 98 percent of mental health court graduates improved their mental health.
Young made the announcement at the annual meeting of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan last week.
In his remarks, Young highlighted the court’s work to improve service to the public by mproving outcomes by measuring court performance and adopting best
practices, implementing technology to expand access and reengineering court processes to increase efficiency.
About $13 million in grants was allocated to speciality courts during the past year. Funds for fiscay year 2016, up three percent from prior levels, come from state and federal governments.
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