Marquette County has received The National Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC) Rural Justice Advisory Council Community Innovation Award. This award recognizes county courts and health care providers for improving access to behavioral health, reducing victimization, facilitating education and employment opportunities, eliminating barriers to accessing justice, reducing incarceration and recidivism, and facilitating reentry through creative solutions.
The RJC has spotlighted Marquette County as an example of how other rural American communities can improve their criminal justice systems and mental health care access.
“This award shows our community’s hard work in making a significant contribution to society,” said Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Michelle Rick, whose district includes Marquette County.
Marquette County recently established a Jobs Court, which helps defendants who have been convicted of low-level, nonviolent offenses find jobs. Jobs Court participants have access to social workers, as well as transportation (to and from work) and mental health care. After completing the program successfully, participants may be able to dismiss their charges.
In addition, the county developed a program that diverts mentally ill individuals from general incarceration and opened a new facility staffed by a Crisis Intervention Team. In this program, sheriff’s deputies are trained as Crisis Intervention Team officers.
The Marquette County Public Defender’s Office was also recognized for its innovative approach to ensuring that defendants have access to behavioral health services, reducing incarceration, and preventing recidivism. The office hired a mental health professional and two social work interns to help court-involved individuals navigate the system.
“This is a prime example of the community coming together across the spectrum to provide needed services. It also demonstrates the strong professional network in Marquette, the deep ties to the communities served, and an inspiring resilience and ingenuity. This program is a hallmark of what rural systems of justice can accomplish,” said Tara Kunkel, founder, Rulo Strategies and a founding partner of the RJC.
The RJC showcases the strengths of rural communities and highlights the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. The work under the RJC is supported by a cross-sector advisory council composed of rural judges along with additional stakeholders in the justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public health systems. The advisory council will guide the multi-year initiative and identify innovative programs and practices.
The RJC priority focus areas are:
• Increasing access to behavioral health treatment
• Reducing victimization
• Facilitating employment/educational opportunities for justice involved individuals
• Eliminating barriers of access to justice
• Reducing incarceration
• Facilitating reentry
• Reducing the number of children in foster care due to substance use disorders
For additional information on RJC, visit www.ruraljusticecollaborative.org.
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