Daily Briefs . . .

Justice Bernstein and others to address drug addiction and recovery


On Thursday, Nov. 12, WMU-Cooley Law School will present “Paradigm Shift: Changing Law and Education to Better Support Addiction Recovery.”   This unique and comprehensive conference will focus on improving addiction recovery support within our criminal justice and educational systems, and will feature nationally recognized speakers, including Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein; Craig DeRoche, former speaker of the House of Representatives and executive director of the Justice Fellowship in Washington, D.C.; Ivana Grahovac, executive director of Transforming Youth Recovery; and Michael Johnson, founder of the Justice/Quade Recovery Institute.
Others scheduled to speak include: Patrick Corbett, assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan; Ljubisa Dragovic, Oakland County medical examiner; Judge Linda Davis of the 41B Sobriety Court and founder of Families Against Narcotics (FAN); Kristen Harper, executive director of Association of Recovery Schools; Deborah Garrett, communications director for REAL Michigan; and Matt Statman, director of the University of Michigan Collegiate Recovery Program.

The conference will include a continental breakfast, lunch, and a chance to network with fellow conference attendees and speakers. A panel discussion of individuals who have experienced criminal consequences due to their addictions will present. Speakers will address the need for criminal justice reform to support addiction recovery, substance abuse in our youths, and the importance of collegiate and high school recovery programs. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein will be providing closing remarks.
This is a ticketed event. Individuals can purchase tickets online. To purchase tickets, visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ and type “Paradigm Shift” in the “Find an Event” search bar.

 

Lawyer: Judge no longer ordering  ‘pay-or-stay’ sentences


MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and a lawyer for a Detroit-area judge are being urged to reach a settlement in a dispute over jail sentences for people who can't afford to immediately pay fines.The ACLU of Michigan is seeking an order prohibiting "pay-or-stay" sentences in the Eastpointe court of Judge Carl Gerds III.

An attorney for Gerds acknowledged that the judge has made mistakes. But Tom Rombach says the judge now is offering payment plans. Rombach also objects to some of the cases listed by the ACLU until he can dig into the details.

Macomb County Judge James Maceroni held a hearing Monday.

Maceroni says pay-or-stay sentences seem "ingrained" in local courts. The ACLU says sending someone to jail without checking their ability to pay is unconstitutional.

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