Macomb County Circuit Judge Julie Gatti will lead a two-day workshop this week for local officials from the courts, law enforcement, mental-health agencies and other organizations on how the community can help those with behavioral needs who come into contact with the criminal-justice system.
The “sequential intercept mapping” workshop taking place Tuesday and Wednesday at Macomb Community College South Campus in Warren will involve “decision-makers to assess current practices, identify gaps, and develop a coordinated action plan that supports treatment and reduces recidivism” for those in the system who have mental-health and substance-use disorders, according to the State Court Administrative Office, supported by the National Center for State Courts.
“It’s identifying what’s existing, where the gaps are and then brainstorming on strategies for making improvements,” said Michigan Supreme Court Justice Megan Cavanagh in an interview. “The whole point of this is to identify different points in the system at different times where people who may suffer from mental health issues and figure out what resources are available at those points.”
The ultimate goal is to help reduce crime.
Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh of the Michigan Supreme Court
MICHIGAN COURTS PHOTO
Macomb is only one of three counties in the state participating in the pilot program “to see how they go, what we can improve on and hopefully introduce in other communities as well,” Cavanagh said.
Similar workshops were held recently for the juvenile system in 17th Circuit in Kent County Circuit Court and for the district court level at 92nd District Court in Mackinac County, according SCAO.
The timing of the program could be ideal for Macomb with the $229-million expansion of the county jail set to open in late 2027. County officials’ aim in creating the new four-level Central Intake and Assessment Center is to help criminal-justice officials focus on inmates’ mental-health and substance-abuse issues.
Michigan is already a leader in treatment or problem-solving courts, with more than 200 of the specialty courts, including several in Macomb, Cavanagh noted.
“They are really saving people’s lives,” she said of specialty courts. “The results show it. Recidivism rates are way lower, employment is high for treatment-court graduates, and they cycle out of the courts.”
The sequential-intercept-mapping concept was discovered and introduced by Kristina Morgan, who was hired by SCAO in 2024 to fill the new position of behavioral health administrator. The new position was suggested by the Michigan Judicial Council’s Behavioral Health Workgroup with support from the executive and legislative branches for its funding, SCAO officials said.
The MJC prioritized making improvements to the way courts respond to behavioral health issues and made it one of five strategic goals outlined in its 2022-25 Strategic Agenda and established the Behavioral Health Improvements Workgroup in the 2022-23 Operational Plan, officials added.