On Wednesday afternoon, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was joined by members of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and Goodwill Industries to officially launch the Wayne County Job Court Prosecutor Diversion Program.
“Job Court will set Michigan residents up for success instead of incarceration by providing people accused of low-level, non-assaultive offenses with the opportunity to obtain and maintain gainful employment,” said Nessel. “This program is smart on crime, it reduces the burden on our criminal justice system, helps our local businesses, and will make our communities safer.”
The Wayne County program employs five full time case managers who will help match 200 participants, chosen by the prosecutor, with a participating employer. Eligible participants are screened for eligibility on a case-by-case basis by considering factors like suitability for employment, past criminal history, and potential impact on public safety. Job Court participants who successfully complete the one-year program will be provided with the opportunity to have their criminal charges dismissed to set them on a pathway to a better future.
“We are so excited that Wayne County will be one of the inaugural sites for Job Court. My staff and I believe deeply that this program will not only give the participants a good, impactful job and other resources. This will put them on a path to real and sustainable life changes. There is a village of people that are committed to making this work,” added Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
In addition to on-the-job training, gainful employment and benefits, participants will be eligible to receive wrap-around services to assist in the successful completion of the program and help set them on the path towards long-term success. These services include, but are not limited to:
• Addiction and recovery therapy
• Mental and behavioral health services
• Educational literacy and testing
• Transportation services
• Food and clothing assistance
• Identification / driver’s license restoration
• Assistance with benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, WIC)
Only individuals with low-level, non-assaultive offenses will be accepted as potential participants for the Job Court Program. Disqualifying offenses include but are not limited to domestic and sexual violence, assault, and theft/dishonesty offenses such as retail fraud, embezzlement and larceny.
The attorney general joined the Marquette and Genesee County Prosecutor’s Offices to launch the pilot program for each county earlier this year. For fiscal year 2023, $4.8 million dollars have been appropriated by the Michigan Legislature for the Job Court Pilot Program. Of that, $2.36 million has been allocated to Wayne County.
The department is continuing to seek partnerships with employers and service providers in Wayne, Marquette, and Genesee Counties. Interested employers can visit the Job Court website at www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/job-court.
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