Bill Text: MI HR0413 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to urge cities and counties to use savings realized from bail reform to increase spending on community policing efforts and staffing of sheriff and police departments.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-11-08 - Referred To Committee On Judiciary [HR0413 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-HR0413-Introduced.html
Rep. Guerra offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 413.
A resolution to urge cities and counties to use savings realized from bail reform to increase spending on community policing efforts and staffing of sheriff and police departments.
Whereas, The money bond system unnecessarily increases the number of people incarcerated prior to trial because there are many people, who pose no risk to public safety, unable to pay the bond set by the court. Incarcerating people prior to trial is a burden on local governments and taxpayers in Michigan and should only be done when public safety requires it. The cost of food, medical care, and security is estimated at $60 per day per person housed in a Michigan jail. Approximately 40 percent of the jail population is unable to post a cash bond, costing local municipalities $150 million in taxpayer dollars annually to house these individuals prior to trial; and
Whereas, House bills ___ and ___ currently pending before the Michigan Legislature would reform the bail bond system used in Michigan, ensuring that individuals who are low flight risks would not be detained due to an inability to pay a money bond. The bills would encourage non-financial conditions of release, such as court reminders, monitoring, and supervision already being used in many counties; and
Whereas, Local municipalities in Michigan can utilize savings realized from bail reform to initiate or bolster community policing programs. Community-oriented policing brings police and citizens together to stop crime before it happens and provide citizens greater control of their community's quality of life. As residents and police officers communicate more frequently, trust and willingness to share information with officers increase. Hiring additional officers in sheriff and police departments will provide local municipalities the tools necessary to guarantee successful community-policing programs; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge cities and counties to use savings realized from bail reform to increase spending on community-policing efforts and staffing of sheriff and police departments; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
