Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently signed a series of bills into law to reform Michigan’s criminal justice and jail systems based on recommendations from a statewide task force.

The 20 bills include such reforms as alternatives to jail, expanding officer discretion to issue appearance tickets instead of making arrests and penalties for traffic offenses. The goal of these bills is to keep citizens in their communities and to save taxpayer dollars on incarceration costs.

“Over the last two years, we’ve worked with leaders on both sides of the aisle to make Michigan a national leader on criminal justice reform,” Whitmer said in a press release. “Today proves that it is possible to make tremendous progress to improve our state when we work together to get things done.”

The bipartisan bills were introduced to the Legislature based on recommendations from the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, a group of attorneys, law enforcement officials, lawmakers, victims of crime and formerly justice-involved individuals dedicated to creating a more equitable criminal justice system in the state. As CMF reported, the task force presented 18 recommendations for criminal justice reforms in early 2020.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack led the task force. Gilchrist and Attorney General Dana Nessel—another task force member—participated in the Michigan Safety and Justice Roundtable hosted by the Hudson-Webber Foundation and other key partners in 2018.

“I’m extraordinarily proud of our collective work over the last two years to understand and improve the criminal justice system,” Gilchrist said. “Before Governor Whitmer and I took office, the system didn’t work for families, communities or our state as a whole but we made a conscious effort to make our state a national leader in reform and the results speak for themselves. We must continue to work together to find ways to provide second chances through a smarter, safer and more effective justice system.”

Melanca Clark, president and CEO of the Hudson-Webber Foundation and CMF trustee, praised the work of the task force and Legislature for working together to make the state’s criminal justice and jail systems more equitable.

“We commend the legislators who passed these bills, as well as the members of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration who, after a year of engagement with communities across the state, proposed these thoughtful and meaningful reforms,” Clark said.

Work is underway around the state to support a more equitable justice system.

The Michigan Justice Fund, a partnership composed of CMF members: the Hudson-Webber Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM), the Ethel & James Flinn Foundation and the Ford Foundation, along with the Public Welfare Foundation, was formed to support efforts related to criminal justice, including stemming the number of individuals in jail, alternatives to jail and support for formally incarcerated individuals.

CFSEM, the Hudson-Webber Foundation and the Ballmer Group, all CMF members, recently announced the Community Policing Innovations Fund, further demonstrating how philanthropy is working to advance equity in policing and public safety. The goal of the fund is to provide guidance and support for local communities in partnership with local law enforcement.

“Philanthropy can play a role in supporting the implementation of these and related smart and equitable justice policies that keep our communities safe and reduce barriers to opportunity,” Clark said. “The Michigan Justice Fund was established in 2020 to support such efforts and we invite other funders to join our collaborative and work with partners who will help continue to move our state forward.”

Want more?

Read Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s press release.

Learn more about the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration.

View details on the Michigan Justice Fund.

Read about The Community Policing Innovations Fund.