Problem-Solving Courts Successful in Lowering Recidivism, Unemployment among Graduates

Programs help strengthen communities across Michigan through ‘hope and humanity’

LANSING, MI, April 6, 2023 – The Michigan Supreme Court today released its FY 2022 Problem-Solving Courts Annual Report, tracking the progress and highlighting the success of 207 problem-solving courts (PSCs) across Michigan from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. In particular, the report shows that graduates of adult drug court programs were, on average, more than 3 times less likely to be convicted of a new offense within three years of admission to a program. Also worth noting—especially during Alcohol Awareness Month—sobriety court graduates who used an ignition interlock device were nearly 5 times less likely to be convicted of a new offense within three years of admission.

“Problem-solving courts exemplify how we are working to increase public trust and confidence in the judiciary through collaboration and compassion—an overarching goal of our Michigan Judicial Council,” said Justice Kyra H. Bolden, the new PSC liaison for the Court. “As a lawmaker, I had the privilege of working with problem-solving courts. Now, I get to view these amazing programs through a whole new lens. And what struck me the most as I reviewed the new report is that these pages are not just filled with numbers and milestones; they are filled with hope and humanity.”

Other report findings:

Michigan’s adult drug and sobriety programs grew from 98 programs in FY 2018 to 109 programs in FY 2022.

Unemployment dropped by 88 percent for adult drug court graduates, 86 percent for sobriety court graduates, and 85 percent for hybrid court (drug/sobriety) graduates.

On average, mental health court (MHC) graduates—adult and juvenile—were nearly 2 times less likely to commit another crime within three years of admission to a program.

Unemployment among adult circuit MHC graduates dropped by 81 percent.

Average 99 percent improvement in mental health and 95 percent quality of life improvement.

Graduates of veterans treatment courts (VTCs) were nearly 2 times less likely to reoffend within three years of admission to a program.

Unemployment dropped by 88 percent among VTC graduates.

Michigan remains a national leader with 28 VTCs.

Problem-solving courts focus on providing treatment and intense supervision to offenders as an alternative to incarceration. These include drug and sobriety, mental health, veterans, and other nontraditional courts. The Supreme Court, through its State Court Administrative Office, assists trial court judges in the management of these courts by providing training, education, operational standards, monitoring, certification requirements, and funding.

The Supreme Court also issued the FY 2022 Annual Report of the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program (SSSPP), which focuses on high-risk probationers. The report shows that SSSPP graduates are less likely to commit further offenses that standard probationers within three years of admission to a program.

The Michigan Judicial Council works to ensure that Michigan’s judicial system is accessible to all and trusted by all. The MJC’s mission is for Michigan’s One Court of Justice to deliver justice for all by providing access, protecting rights, resolving disputes, and applying the law under the Constitution. Read about the MJC Strategic Agenda and Operational Plan.