The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) has awarded $1,000,000 in grants to 12 district courts around Michigan to establish Operation Drive programs that help defendants resolve outstanding legal and financial obligations in order to regain their driving privileges.
“We are grateful to the state legislature for enabling our courts to assist individuals who need cars to get to work, earn a paycheck, and support their families,” said Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Megan K. Cavanagh said.
Grant recipients: 54B District Court, East Lansing; 61st District Court, Grand Rapids; 36th District Court, Detroit; 45th District Court, Oak Park; 67th District Court, Genesee County; 19th District Court, Dearborn; 63rd District Court, Kent County; 34th District Court, Romulus; 98th District Court, Ontonagon; 71B District Court, Tuscola County; 95B District Court, Dickinson County; and 52nd District Court, Oakland County.
Participating courts must adhere to the Operation Drive Program Guide in establishing their own programs, which involves engaging judges, magistrates, city attorneys, county prosecutors, local law enforcement, the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, and retained or appointed defense counsel. The Operation Drive Team, consisting of these stakeholders, must collaboratively support the underlying goals and objectives of the program to promote safe and valid drivers.
Programs should also:
• focus on individuals with pending misdemeanor traffic offenses and suspended or never-issued licenses;
• offer support for resolving tickets, warrants, court appearances, and fines; and,
• include funding for personnel, supplies, transportation incentives, and virtual tools.
The Operation Drive grant program is modeled after the successful initiative launched in 2016 by Judge Derek W. Meinecke of the 44th District Court in Royal Oak.
“Ensuring that punishments are right-sized and appropriate is the next frontier for trial courts,” said Judge Meinecke in 2019 on addressing the pervasive issue of driver’s license suspensions as a means of punishment in Michigan, as well as a catalyst for other problems in the criminal justice system.
The program also aims to continue the work of the Jail Reform Task Force, whose recommendations were passed into law in 2020 and have helped decrease the jail population in Michigan by reclassifying certain driving-related offenses.
“We are grateful to the state legislature for enabling our courts to assist individuals who need cars to get to work, earn a paycheck, and support their families,” said Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Megan K. Cavanagh said.
Grant recipients: 54B District Court, East Lansing; 61st District Court, Grand Rapids; 36th District Court, Detroit; 45th District Court, Oak Park; 67th District Court, Genesee County; 19th District Court, Dearborn; 63rd District Court, Kent County; 34th District Court, Romulus; 98th District Court, Ontonagon; 71B District Court, Tuscola County; 95B District Court, Dickinson County; and 52nd District Court, Oakland County.
Participating courts must adhere to the Operation Drive Program Guide in establishing their own programs, which involves engaging judges, magistrates, city attorneys, county prosecutors, local law enforcement, the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, and retained or appointed defense counsel. The Operation Drive Team, consisting of these stakeholders, must collaboratively support the underlying goals and objectives of the program to promote safe and valid drivers.
Programs should also:
• focus on individuals with pending misdemeanor traffic offenses and suspended or never-issued licenses;
• offer support for resolving tickets, warrants, court appearances, and fines; and,
• include funding for personnel, supplies, transportation incentives, and virtual tools.
The Operation Drive grant program is modeled after the successful initiative launched in 2016 by Judge Derek W. Meinecke of the 44th District Court in Royal Oak.
“Ensuring that punishments are right-sized and appropriate is the next frontier for trial courts,” said Judge Meinecke in 2019 on addressing the pervasive issue of driver’s license suspensions as a means of punishment in Michigan, as well as a catalyst for other problems in the criminal justice system.
The program also aims to continue the work of the Jail Reform Task Force, whose recommendations were passed into law in 2020 and have helped decrease the jail population in Michigan by reclassifying certain driving-related offenses.
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