Justice Kyra H. Bolden of the Michigan Supreme Court will be joined by judges and veterans to discuss a new report on Michigan's problem-solving courts. The event is scheduled for May 17, 2024, ahead of Armed Services Day.
The press conference will highlight the success of Veterans Treatment Courts as detailed in the MSC Problem-Solving Courts (PSC) Annual Report. Justice Bolden will be accompanied by Judge Pablo Cortes from Kent County Veterans Treatment Court, Judge Joshua Farrell from Clare/Gladwin County Veterans Treatment Court, Kevin Scott, a volunteer peer mentor at Detroit and Dearborn veterans treatment courts, and Matthew Fisher, a veteran graduate from Redford Township's court.
The PSC Annual Report reveals that graduates of adult drug court programs are nearly three times less likely to reoffend within three years compared to those not enrolled in such programs. It also notes significant drops in unemployment among graduates of drug and sobriety courts as well as veterans treatment courts.
Problem-solving courts offer treatment and supervision as alternatives to incarceration. These include various specialized courts like drug, sobriety, mental health, and veterans' courts. The State Court Administrative Office supports these efforts with training, education, standards monitoring, certification requirements, and funding.
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube for public viewing. Reporters interested in joining via Zoom are instructed to contact Stacy Sellek for access details.