Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido has proposed creating Michigan’s first child support specialty court, a pilot program aimed at helping parents behind on payments find work, repay arrears and avoid felony convictions.
Lucido said the court would function like other diversion programs, including veterans, drug and mental health courts, that offer structured supervision and support services instead of immediate criminal penalties.
“Our goal is simple: get children the support they’re owed while addressing the barriers that keep parents from paying,” Lucido said. Under Lucido’s direction, the office has focused on securing compliance rather than simply filing charges.
In Macomb County, unpaid child support totals about $312 million, according to Lucido.
Current law allows felony charges against parents who fail to pay, often complicating their ability to find stable work.
The proposed court would let defendants plead guilty but delay sentencing while they complete a yearlong program that requires payments, employment and court oversight. Successful completion would allow them to avoid a felony conviction.
A key component will be connecting participants with employers through Michigan Works and workforce programs. Some may qualify for paid skilled-trades training, which Lucido said would create “a pipeline of workers ready for high-growth industries.”
Lucido said no new funding is anticipated to be needed because the specialty court would use existing resources. An advisory committee of judges, probation officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, Friend of the Court staff and commissioners will be announced soon.
The prosecutor also plans to seek bipartisan legislation expanding the court’s authority to defer sentencing for up to five years, compared with the current one-year limit. Lucido said the change would give parents with large debts more time to repay their child support obligations.
The Child Support Specialty Court would address those challenges by:
• Allowing eligible defendants to plead guilty but have their sentencing deferred until they complete a 1-year program, avoiding immediate harm to employment and, in some cases, avoiding a felony conviction altogether.
• Placing participants under close court supervision, with structured consequences for missed payments, voluntary unemployment, or substance abuse violations.
• Providing job training, employment assistance, and, when necessary, substance abuse treatment, while also offering services to the affected families.
In order to participate, offenders would first have to apply for acceptance into the program, including signing an agreement to abide by the program’s strict rules and progressive discipline. Offenders would then be able to access program services including job placement and family services.
The initiative builds on earlier enforcement efforts, including a new 2022 program Lucido launched that successfully collected over $3 million for children from delinquent parents. Lucido said the new court would continue focusing on compliance over punishment.
“This is about finding solutions that work for families, not just punishing nonpayment,” he said. “By helping parents meet their obligations, we give children the resources they deserve and reduce the long-term burden on taxpayers.”
Lucido said the court would function like other diversion programs, including veterans, drug and mental health courts, that offer structured supervision and support services instead of immediate criminal penalties.
“Our goal is simple: get children the support they’re owed while addressing the barriers that keep parents from paying,” Lucido said. Under Lucido’s direction, the office has focused on securing compliance rather than simply filing charges.
In Macomb County, unpaid child support totals about $312 million, according to Lucido.
Current law allows felony charges against parents who fail to pay, often complicating their ability to find stable work.
The proposed court would let defendants plead guilty but delay sentencing while they complete a yearlong program that requires payments, employment and court oversight. Successful completion would allow them to avoid a felony conviction.
A key component will be connecting participants with employers through Michigan Works and workforce programs. Some may qualify for paid skilled-trades training, which Lucido said would create “a pipeline of workers ready for high-growth industries.”
Lucido said no new funding is anticipated to be needed because the specialty court would use existing resources. An advisory committee of judges, probation officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, Friend of the Court staff and commissioners will be announced soon.
The prosecutor also plans to seek bipartisan legislation expanding the court’s authority to defer sentencing for up to five years, compared with the current one-year limit. Lucido said the change would give parents with large debts more time to repay their child support obligations.
The Child Support Specialty Court would address those challenges by:
• Allowing eligible defendants to plead guilty but have their sentencing deferred until they complete a 1-year program, avoiding immediate harm to employment and, in some cases, avoiding a felony conviction altogether.
• Placing participants under close court supervision, with structured consequences for missed payments, voluntary unemployment, or substance abuse violations.
• Providing job training, employment assistance, and, when necessary, substance abuse treatment, while also offering services to the affected families.
In order to participate, offenders would first have to apply for acceptance into the program, including signing an agreement to abide by the program’s strict rules and progressive discipline. Offenders would then be able to access program services including job placement and family services.
The initiative builds on earlier enforcement efforts, including a new 2022 program Lucido launched that successfully collected over $3 million for children from delinquent parents. Lucido said the new court would continue focusing on compliance over punishment.
“This is about finding solutions that work for families, not just punishing nonpayment,” he said. “By helping parents meet their obligations, we give children the resources they deserve and reduce the long-term burden on taxpayers.”
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