LANSING (AP) — Bills advancing in Michigan’s Legislature would require that special problem-solving courts receive state certification to operate.
The courts are designed to address criminals’ underlying substance abuse or mental health issues so they do not reoffend.
Policymakers say the legislation is needed so Michigan has a more consistent and effective approach for the courts and defendants. Under the bills approved unanimously by the Senate Tuesday, specialty courts would have to be certified by the State Court Administrative Office starting in January.
The office currently offers recommendations, but the courts are under no mandate to adopt them.
The legislation will go to the House for consideration next.
- Posted September 14, 2017
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Senate OKs certification of specialty courts
headlines Oakland County
- Department of Justice indicts eight conspirators who threatened University of Michigan officials, businesses, and the Jewish Federation
- Michigan overdose death rate declines by 47 percent since 2021
- Nessel reminds residents to research home improvement offers
- Justice dept. encourages communities to apply for nearly $700m in grants to support law enforcement around the country
- Judge’s memorial unveiled
headlines National
- Bill Kurtis’ memoir tells how law school trained him for covering trials
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Justice Barrett’s home targeted in attempted swatting call
- Texting-and-driving charges dropped against woman without right hand
- Fender warns guitar makers to stop producing Stratocaster look-a-likes
- General counsel compensation climbs, aligned with equity and company scale
