NEWBERRY, MI— The district court serving Luce and Mackinac counties is getting federal funding to enhance its community court program.
More than $419,000 was awarded to the 92nd District Court from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. It aims to connect persons committing less serious crimes—often misdemeanor cases—to judicially-supervised substance use disorder treatment, alternative sanctions, and other community-based services.
Chief Judge Beth Gibson says more than 20 percent of the residents of Mackinac County and 10 percent of Luce County are indigenous people. With limited access to internet services and transportation barriers, both communities have failed to thrive in the increasingly digital world.
She says officials are exploring ways to enhance the current treatment court. They also want to enhance oversight of defendants at a higher risk of committing another crime due to the lack of oversight once they’re bound over to circuit court. She says pretrial monitoring will be offered to those at risk, particularly those with prior misdemeanors.
