Detroit Free Press Editorial Board
Accusing anyone of racism is a sure way to elicit a defensive response. Suggest that institutional racism is rampant, and most white Americans will react with the same reflexive denial, insisting they neither practice nor condone it.
But institutional racism isn t an attitude, or a policy; it s an outcome. To diminish it and ultimately eradicate it, we first have to measure it.
So we re asking leaders in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to undertake an extraordinary effort: Gather the data necessary to document, and quantify, the racial inequities that infect each county s criminal justice system, following the example of civic leaders in Washtenaw County.
Muskegon County Prosecutor part of Governor s task force on criminal justice reform
The Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration assembled in 2019, leading to new state laws and criminal justice reform. Author: Jon Mills Updated: 6:39 PM EST January 28, 2021
MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich In 2019 Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer assembled the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration. Members of the task force were asked to study every facet of the state s criminal justice system, from the moment of arrest, to the treatment of felons after incarceration.
The task force included judges, police chiefs, county commissioners, members of the state house and senate and one county prosecutor, D.J. Hilson from Muskegon County.
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.
Whitmer signs dozens of criminal justice and jail reform bills ⋆ Michigan Advance michiganadvance.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from michiganadvance.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.