Chief Judge Carol Montavon Bealor recently announced that the Cass County Problem Solving/Treatment Courts have received $476,500 in the following grant awards from the State Court Administrative Office for the grant period of Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024:
• $73,000 for the Family Treatment Court (Michigan Drug Court Grant Program grant) presided over by the Honorable Carol Montavon Bealor
• $170,000 for the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program (SSSPP grant) presided over by the Honorable Mark A. Herman
• $105,000 for the Adult Treatment/Sobriety Court (Byrne JAG) presided over by the Honorable Stacey A. Rentfrow
• $15,000 for the Adult Treatment/Sobriety Court (MDCGP Grant) presided over by the Honorable Stacey A. Rentfrow
• $113,500 for the Cass County Mental Health Court (CMHC) presided over by the Honorable Mark A. Herman
The Michigan State Court Administrative Office awarded more than $18.5 million in grants to problem-solving court programs statewide for fiscal year 2024 according to a press release issued by the Michigan Supreme Court.
“The financial support received from the State Court Administrator’s Office is critical in allowing our problem-solving courts to provide vital services to participants as the programs heavily rely on grant funding to operate,” Judge Bealor said. “Problem-solving courts give participants a second chance at being healthy and sober members of our community while reducing recidivism and unemployment rates among graduates. We are fortunate to have grant support for our PSC programs and to have a full continuum of treatment court programs in Cass County.”
Problem-solving courts address the root cause of crime among individuals by using evidence-based practices and are the most successful intervention in our nation’s history for leading people living with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery and stability. According to key findings from the Fiscal Year 2022 Problem-Solving Courts Annual Report released by the Michigan Supreme Court:
• The State of Michigan had 207 PSCs for FY 2022
• Graduates of adult drug court programs were, on average, more than three times less likely to be convicted of a new offense within three years of admission to a program.
• 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 two 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.
To learn more about problem-solving courts and the difference they are making throughout the State of Michigan, check out information on the Michigan Supreme Court’s website at: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/administration/court-programs/problem-solving-courts/
Cass County Courts