Street Outreach Court Detroit

We had the official unveiling of the Street Outreach Court Detroit (SOCD) Tuesday, June 25.  It was media day.  We welcomed those who are usually involved: Judges, magistrates, defense lawyer, prosecutor, court recorder, bailiff, etc.  In addition, we welcomed the news media and officials who were invited from the city: the chief judge of the 36th district court, and other officials.  We had worked for over a year to get the court started, and now this is the first anniversary of actually holding court at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen once a month. 

The SOCD works by giving individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness the opportunity to resolve certain types of civil infractions, misdemeanors, and parking tickets, by crediting their personal redemptive efforts to address the causes of their offending behaviors (such as job training, education, and alcohol and drug rehabilitation) toward their outstanding fines, costs and/or jail time.

The SCOD requires a participant's compliance with a comprehensive action plan before any relief is granted.  Upon completion of an action plan, judges, prosecutors, and the Municipal Parking Department review the participant's file to determine if the participant is entitled to relief and, if so, what relief.  The participant then proceeds to a final hearing at a session of Court held at the CSK, where relief is granted. - Br. Bob