Opinion: Justice McCormack: Michigan needs better court data system
Bridget McCormack
Until last year, it seemed everyone had a story (or 10) illustrating why Michigan’s jail and pretrial policies weren’t making our communities safer but were hurting families. But anecdotes don’t drive systemic improvements. Data does. As co-chair of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, I saw firsthand how data led to bipartisan legislation to resolve entrenched problems in the use of jails. As a result, Michigan jails will look considerably different in 2021, and data driven policies will help keep more people out of jail, working and providing for their families.