On January 30, John Cooper, CAPPS policy director, and JT Weis, CEO of Abcor Industries, testified before the House of Representatives Law and Justice Committee at the invitation of the chair, Representative Klint Kesto (R - District 39). Their testimony emphasized the need to increase the available workforce in Michigan and to remove barriers to [...]
After nearly 45 years working on criminal justice issues, it is time for me to step aside. But I’m grateful to have been part of the movement to undo the excesses that bloated our prison population and caused so much pain and waste. I’m grateful for my caring, dedicated, enormously competent co-workers at CAPPS, our [...]
The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) estimates that as many as 850 people under their supervision are medically frail. Medically frail people are unable to perform basic tasks of daily living without assistance and are often unable to get dressed, use the bathroom, or eat on their own. These people are so frail that they [...]
Northern Michigan seeks to expand services for rural communities On September 29, health, veteran, and law enforcement professionals testified before the House C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Access, Resources, Education, and Safety) Task Force at Mid-Michigan Community College in Harrison and offered recommendations on how to improve services for people with mental illness. J. Dee Brooks, prosecuting attorney [...]
On September 11, health and law enforcement professionals testified before the House C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Access, Resources, Education, and Safety) Task Force at the Team Wellness Center in Detroit. The Team Wellness Center provides an array of comprehensive behavioral and physical health services in an environment that promotes quality of life, continuous improvement, and social awareness. [...]
On September 7, health, business, and law enforcement professionals testified before the House C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Access, Resources, Education, and Safety) Task Force at the Capitol. Their testimony emphasized the need to reduce the involvement of people with mental health issues in the criminal justice system. The Task Force seeks to develop legislation to reform mental [...]
November 2 was a powerful and moving evening! The 2017 CAPPS Annual Membership Meeting and dinner attracted over 200 people from across the state, including representatives from across the political spectrum, including business and community leaders, formerly incarcerated people and their families, crime survivors, and faith communities. The event featured author Dr. Heather Ann Thompson [...]
Everyone is welcome! Tickets for the Annual Membership Meeting and dinner are available! Registration is easy and simple! Click HERE! Last year’s event attracted over 200 people – a wonderful mix of advocates, lawmakers, business leaders, formerly incarcerated people, crime survivors, faith-based groups, families of the incarcerated, lobbyists, MDOC representatives, the media, and others. There was [...]
The August 29 C.A.R.E.S. Task Force hearing was in Auburn Hills at the Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN). OCHN professionals, Oakland County Law enforcement, local leaders, and public health representatives from the private and public sector offered solutions for improved mental health services. National and local crime survivor advocates shared personal stories and urged enactment [...]
On August 17 the C.A.R.E.S. Task Force hosted a meeting at the Hope Network office in Grand Rapids. Hope Network is an organization providing services that improve the independence of vulnerable populations. Rep. Kesto (R – District 39) opened the hearing by saying that he is seeking “insightful and cutting edge policy recommendations that makes [...]