Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido says more court witnesses will get paid more quickly thanks to new technology implemented by his office.
Lucido has introduced technology that promises quicker and more convenient payments.
“Being called upon to testify as a witness is stressful, but getting witness fees should not be,” said Lucido.
A non-police witness in a criminal case who attends court shall be paid a witness fee of $12.00 for each day and $6 for each half day, plus 10 cents per mile of travel to the court, per Michigan law.
The old process required circuit court witnesses to walk from the circuit court building to the prosecutor’s office then walk to the treasurer's office or wait in line at a district court counter, Lucido said.
Under the new initiative, witnesses may now request their witness fees with ease via text message or online.
As of mid-September, 970 witness fee checks were sent for attending hearings in Macomb County courts.
The prosecutor’s office estimates over 3,000 crime victims this year were eligible to receive witness fees.
Lucido said the move is a positive step towards improving the overall experience for court witnesses who play a crucial role in the criminal justice system, ensuring they are fairly compensated without unnecessary hurdles.
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