The Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration held its second meeting on Friday, August 23, 2019 in Traverse City, Michigan. Wayne State University (WSU) School of Social Work Dean Sheryl Kubiak was appointed by Governor Whitmer to serve on the Task Force as a survivor of crime and an advocate for crime victims.

In the morning, the Task Force reviewed national research on jail and pretrial detention, hearing presentations from the Center for Legal and Evidence-Based Practices, the ACLU, and the Jail Research and Policy Institute at Florida State University. Research suggests that pretrial detention may increase recidivism, the use of money bond and drug testing do not appear to improve pretrial outcomes, and those sentenced to jail time reoffend at higher levels than similar people sentenced to probation.

In the afternoon, Task Force members heard over three hours of public testimony from nearly 35 individuals, ranging from judges, law enforcement and mental health providers to families and citizens impacted by jail and pretrial incarceration, with mental health being a prevailing theme of many comments. The prevalence of serious mental illness in Michigan's jails has been studied by Dean Kubiak and the WSU School of Social Work Center for Behavioral Health and Justice (CBHJ) since 2015, with recent findings showing that 21% of individuals booked into jail screened positive for serious mental illness.

The Task Force will continue to hold public meetings across the state through November 2019, with public comment scheduled for each afternoon. The final report and recommendations of the Task Force are scheduled to be released at the January 9, 2020 meeting. The Task Force will seek to educate state- and county-level stakeholders, as well we the public, about their findings and strategize for implementation of recommendations through September 2020.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, September 20 in Grand Rapids, and will include a presentation by Dean Kubiak on the findings of the CBHJ about serious mental illness in Michigan jails. If you would like to stay connected with the Task Force, check the meeting schedule to identify the meeting nearest to you. Additionally, you can sign up for updates from the Task Force website, and view the list of Task Force members to connect with any of your elected officials serving as members.

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About the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration: The Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration was established by Governor Whitmer's Executive Order No. 2019-10. The Task Force acts in an advisory capacity with the goal of developing ambitious, innovative, and thorough recommendations for changes in state law, policy, and appropriations to expand alternatives to jail, safely reduce jail admissions and length of stay, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Michigan's justice systems. Learn more or sign up for the Task Force newsletter..

About the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice: The Center for Behavioral Health and Justice and Wayne State University's School of Social Work envisions communities in which research, data, and best practices are used by multiple stakeholders to enhance the optimal well-being of individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal/legal system. Learn more