The 86th District Court in Grand Traverse
County began a Community Outreach Court in October 2017 to offer services to
individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This program provides the opportunity to
resolve unpaid court fines, fees, bench warrants, and open cases for civil and
criminal infractions when they complete an action plan designed to address the
root causes of their homelessness or risk of homelessness and criminal
activity.
“The Community Outreach Court is tailored
to meet the unique needs of people who are trapped in a revolving door – a trap
of unpaid fines that become bench warrants, then jail time and more fines. In our program, we ask participants to
identify the root causes of their homelessness and criminal history and to take
self-restorative steps to address them.
The program credits their hard work toward unpaid fees and fines and
they walk away with a clean slate.
They’re able to pay in another form of currency.” Heather
Abraham, Attorney Legal Services of Northern MI.
Our program partners with various agencies
in our community whose case workers are working with clients who have
outstanding court issues. The client and
case manager together complete the application and a progress report that are
submitted to the Community Outreach Team for review. If the client is accepted into the program,
the client and case manager come before the judge to discuss the client’s
progress over a several-month period before the judge offers whatever relief
the court may before the client graduates from the program.
“I am very excited to have the Community
Outreach Court in the community and to be working with these organizations to
serve people in a non-traditional way.
It is gratifying to see people helping themselves with the support of
this program and reducing their risk of homelessness.” Honorable
Thomas J. Phillips, 86th District Court
Interested in learning more? Contact the court at 231-922-4580.