17th Circuit Court Kent County Courthouse 18 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 4953 Phone: (616) 632-5137 Fax: (616) 632-513 Mission The 17th Circuit Court will provide a system of justice that assures equal access to the fair and timely resolution of matters brought before the Court. Overview The Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Michigan. It has jurisdiction over all actions except those given by state law to another court. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction in all civil cases involving more than $25,, in all criminal cases where the offense is a felony or a serious misdemeanor, all domestic relations cases, and all child abuse, neglect, and delinquency cases. The Circuit Court also hears appeals from lower courts; appeals from local government boards such as zoning appeals; and appeals from some administrative agencies of state government (such as the Driver s License Appeal Division of the Secretary of State). There are 17 judges currently sitting on the 17th Circuit Court. The Court s activities are divided into the following functions: Administration and Adjudication Support Services Circuit Court Services Circuit Court Probation Family Division Juvenile Programs Friend of the Court Strategic Goals Meet the case processing time guidelines as promulgated by the Supreme Court and State Court Administrative Office (Efficient Use of Resources). Reduce further recidivism (Safe Community). Effectively and Efficiently collect court ordered financial sanctions (Stable Revenues). Maximize the effectiveness of existing staff and continue to provide a high level of service and programming (Efficient Use of Resources). Significant Accomplishments Implemented YLS risk assessment tool for juvenile offenders Received grant to test feasibility of Mental Health Court Paperless Specialized Business Docket. Maintained high standard and improved overall percentage of case completions within time guidelines as set by the State Court Administrator s Office Implemented Truancy Court and Girls Court 1
DEPARTMENT: 17TH CIRCUIT COURT Department Mission Statement: The 17th Circuit Court will provide a system of justice that assures equal access for the fair and timely resolution of matters brought before the Court. Service Area: Case Processing Service Area Mission Statement: To provide an effective and efficient caseflow management process to ensure that those coming to the attention of the court receive procedural due process and equal protection. Goal To expedite the disposal of cases in a manner consistent with fairness to all parties. Objectives To meet case processing time guidelines as promulgated by the State Court Administrative Office. To attain 1% clearance rates on all major case types. Improve the timely clearance of Paternity Cases Outcomes % of civil cases disposed within 728 days % of all felony cases disposed within 31 days % of divorce cases without children disposed within 364 days % of divorce cases with children disposed within 364 days % of child protective cases (inplacement) disposed of within 98 days % of child protective cases (not in placement) disposed of within 21 days % of delinquency cases (incustody) disposed of within 98 days 94.% 95.%/ 94.% 98.% 98.%/ 98.% 99.% 98.%/ 99.% 96.% 95.%/ 97.% 94.% 85.%/ 93.% 98.% 98.%/ 97.% 9.% 9.%/ 86.% 95.%/ 96.% 98.%/ 98.% 98.%/ 99.% 95.%/ 97.% 85.%/ 85.% 98.%/ 99.% 9.%/ 73.% 95.% 98.% 98.% 95.% 85.% 98.% 9.% 2
% of delinquency cases (noncustody) disposed of within 21 days % of all felony and extradition cases disposed of within 14 days. % of all appeals (limited jurisdiction) disposed of within 182 days % of extraordinary writs disposed of within 91 days % of miscellaneous domestic matters disposed of within 238 days % of paternity cases disposed of within 238 days % of ex parte personal protection orders disposed of within 24 hours % of non ex parte personal protection orders disposed within 21 days. % of safe delivery cases disposed of within 273 days % of emancipation cases disposed of within 91 days % of infectious disease cases disposed of within 91 days % of parental waiver cases disposed of within 5 days. % of adoption cases disposed 96.% 98.%/ 97.% / 9.% 98.%/ 96.% 17.% 98.%/ 3.% 95.% 95.%/ 97.% 92.% 95.%/ 93.% / / 98.%/ 97.% 98.%/ of within 364 days 97.% % of jurors used 52.% 65.%/ 52.% 98.%/ 97.% / 98.%/ 86.% 98.%/ 25.% 95.%/ 97.% 95.%/ 98.% / / 75.% 98.% 98.% 98.% 95.% 95.% / / / / NA NA NA 98.%/ 98.%/ 99.% 65.%/ 31.% 98.% 65.% Efficiencies Criminal case clearance rate 13.4% / 11.% Civil case clearance rate 98.51% / 18.% Divorce without children case 18.91% / clearance rate. 13.% / 96.% / 96.% / 98.% 3
Divorce with children case clearance rate. 115.85% / 15.% Domestic relations case 117.23% / clearance rate. 15.% Paternity case clearance rate. 11.95% / 119.% Personal protection order case 1.1% / clearance rate. Juvenile delinquency case 112.18% / clearance rate 17.% Child protective case clearance 13.17% / rate. 97.% County cost (administrative) $2,591 $2,5/ per criminal case $2,522 County cost (administrative) $1,69 $1,6/ per civil case. $1,622 County cost (administrative) $1,289 $1,2/ per domestic relations case. $1,268 County cost (administrative) $3,142 $3,/ per delinquency case $3,287 County cost (administrative) $3,792 $3,5/ per neglect case. $3,618 Outputs # of civil case filings 1,27 1,5/ 1,72 # of criminal case filings 3,193 3,25/ 3,278 # of appeal case filings. 232 25/ 222 # of domestic relations case 4,813 5,/ filings. 4,65 # of delinquency/traffic case 3,63 3,2/ filings. 2,72 # of child protective case 1,9 1,5/ filings 1,34 # of adoption case filings. 297 3/ 346 # of miscellaneous filings 2,58 2,/ (Personal Protection Orders) 2,561 # of attorney appointments - 3,778 3,8/ criminal 3,98 / 99.% / / / / / 11.% $2,5/ $2,636 $1,6/ $1,751 $1,3/ $1,43 $3,3/ $4,6 $3,6/ $4,94 1,3/ 1,122 3,25/ 3,74 25/ 28 5,/ 4,684 2,7/ 2,515 1,/ 919 32/ 31 2,7/ 2,44 3,75/ 3,745 $2,5 $1,6 $1,3 $3,5 $3,8 1,2 3,2 25 4,8 2,6 95 32 2,35 3,8 4
# of attorneys appointed - delinquency # of attorneys appointed - child protective 523 5/ 5 1,339 1,6/ 1,495 5/ 59 1,55/ 1,288 55 1,3 5
Service Area: Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Area Mission Statement: To provide a process designed to resolve a legal dispute in the place of court adjudication. Goals To provide parties an alternative to settling disputes without costly litigation and court involvement. To assist parties in settling their disputes with a greater degree of satisfaction. Objectives 6% of mediations held will settle or settle in part 7% of those completing the mediation evaluation form will indicate a satisfaction with the mediation process. Outcomes % of divorce mediations settled or settled in part % of civil mediations settled or settled in part % satisfied with domestic mediation results % satisfied with civil mediation results 77.7% 7.%/ 79.7% 67.% 6.%/ 61.2% 92.% 9.%/ 83.% 93.% 9.%/ 9.% >75.%/ 79.9% >6.%/ 54.5% >85.%/ 93.% >85.%/ 81.% >75.% >6.% >85.% >85.% Efficiencies Hours of judicial time saved by mediation (estimated) 373 3/ 571 >5/ 6 >5 Outputs # of domestic mediations 425 35/ 399 # of civil mediations 19 9/ 98 >35/ 42 >9/ 121 >35 >95 6
Service Area: Detention Service Area Mission Statement: To provide short-term pre and post dispositional safe and secure custody for juveniles who can not be placed in a less restrictive setting and who have violated the law, violated court orders and stipulations of probation, and/or are waiting court-ordered placement. Goals To provide a safe and secure environment for juveniles admitted to Detention. Provide short term residential programming to a limited number of juveniles. Objectives No residents will escape from Detention. Maintain a daily census of 69 residents or less. 1% of newly hired youth specialists will receive a minimum of 8 hours of training within 45 days of hire. Less than 5 incidences of residents assaulting residents will be documented per year. Outcomes # of successful escapes from / Detention # of days over capacity / # of documented restraints 99 <13/ 124 # of assaults by residents upon 4 <5/ residents 27 # of assaults by residents upon 5 <5/ staff. 12 % of residents at risk for suicide that have a mental health assessment w/in 24 hrs % of residents seen by medical staff within 5 hours of making the request % of staff who complete 24 hours of training % of new staff who complete 8 hours of training within 45 days of hire / / / / / / <15/ 1 <5/ 28 <1/ 6 / / / / <13 <45 <1 7
% of youth graduating after being accepted into residential treatment % of graduates of residential treatment who return to detention with new criminal charges NA NA >8.%/ 88.% NA NA <1.%/ 9.% >85.% <1.% Efficiencies Per diem cost per resident $239 $28/ $289 Outputs # of admissions to Detention 1,282 1,5/ 1,15 <$3/ $37 1,4/ 1,111 <$31 1,4 8
Service Area: Crisis Intervention Program Service Area Mission Statement: To provide short-term counseling for families with youth between the ages of 12-17 who have runaway from home, are truant from school, or have other related problems and are experiencing family conflicts due to adolescent development issues, are beyond parental control, and/or commit minor law violations. Goal To prevent status offenders or youth involved in minor law violations from becoming court wards. Objectives 85% of all status offenders who receive Crisis Intervention Program services will be diverted from court wardship for 12 days. 9% of youth will remain in their own home while services are being provided and upon case closing. Outcomes % of youth residing in their own homes at the time of service closure % of status offenders released from Detention within 6 hours of admission to Detention % of status offenders diverted from formal court involvement for at least 12 days from receiving Crisis Intervention Program services % of domestic violence cases released from Detention within 24 hours of admission. 93.% 9.%/ 91.% / 79.% 85.%/ 76.% 89.% 85.%/ 82.% >9.%/ 97.% / >8.%/ 89.% >8.%/ 82.% >9.% >85.% >8.% Outputs # of families served 284 4/ 286 # of domestic violence cases admitted to Detention 123 13/ 119 >28/ 282 <13/ 19 >28 <12 9
Service Area: Adolescent Sex Offender Treatment Program Service Area Mission Statement: To provide in-home assessment and treatment services to juvenile sex offenders, ages 8-17. Goals To prevent further sexual victimization Reduce the use of residential treatment Objectives Less than 1% of juvenile sex offenders will reoffend sexually during treatment. Less than 5 juvenile sex offenders will reoffend sexually within 1 year of treatment completion. 75% of all juvenile sex offenders in treatment will complete treatment objectives. 8% of juvenile sex offenders will reside in their own home during treatment. Outcomes % of youth contacted for an assessment appointment within 14 days of referral % of juveniles completing an assessment within 56 days of referral % of youth in their own homes during treatment % of youth in foster care during treatment % of youth completing treatment objectives % of youth reoffending during treatment # of youth sexually reoffending within 1 year from completion of treatment objectives 9.%/ 68.% 65.%/ 43.% 71.% 8.%/ 81.% 18.% <15.%/ 11.% 92.% 85.%/ 91.%.% <8.%/.% 2 5/ >95.%/ >65.%/ 49.% <8.%/ 79.% <15.%/ 11.% >85.%/ 96.% <8.%/.% <4/ 95.% 6.% 8.% <15.% 9.% <8.% <4 1
Efficiencies Unit cost per juvenile in treatment $7,335 $9,/ $6,235 <$9,/ $4,86 <$6, Outputs # of referrals to the program 79 8/ 83 # of assessments completed 65 >65/ 68 # of youth accepted into 31 5/ treatment 32 >75/ 8 >6/ 77 >35/ 46 >75 >6 4 11
Service Area: Young Delinquent Intervention Program Service Area Mission Statement: To provide home-based services to children and their parents of youth 11 years old and younger who have broken the law. Goal To prevent further delinquency by intervening early with very young offenders (11 years old and younger) Objectives 75% of all young offenders in treatment will complete their treatment objectives Less than 1% of young offenders will have a new law violation while in treatment. 9% of Family Closure surveys returned will have an average score of 3 or higher. Outcomes % scheduled for an initial 95.%/ assessment within 7 days of referral % of service plans completed / within 3 days of acceptance % who complete treatment 75.% 75.%/ objectives 86.% % who are placed in foster care 11.% <15.%/.% % who have a new law 5.% <1.%/ violation while in treatment.% % who reoffend within 12 months of discharge from wardship % of Referral Source surveys with an average score of 3 or higher % of Family Closure surveys with an average score of 3 or higher 8.% <5.%/ 3.% 9.%/ 9.%/ 95.%/ / 33.% >8.%/ 84.% <15.%/.% <1.%/ 1.% <3.%/ 1.% 95.% 8.% <15.% <1.% <1.% NA 95.% 9.%/ 9.% 12
Efficiencies Unit cost per young offender served 7,787 7,5/ 6,813 <7,2/ 6,427 <7,2 Outputs # of young offenders served 28 25/ 32 3/ 34 3 13
Service Area: Community Probation Service Area Mission Statement: Community probation is a unique and non-traditional way of providing decentralized and personalized court supervision to juveniles and their families that reside in a specific sector of the city or metro area. Goal To reduce further delinquency in the targeted population. Objectives Less than 1% of the cases assigned to community probation will be referred by the police for a new felony offense while on community probation. Less than 1% of intake cases closed at intake will return again to intake with a new law violation committed within 12 months of closure at intake 8% of parents surveyed immediately after their child is discharged from probation will indicate satisfaction with the work of the probation officer assigned. Outcomes Average days from case assignment to 1st scheduled preliminary inquiry - intake. % of closed intake cases that return to intake for a new charge within 12 months of closure. % of juveniles successfully completing the Consent Calendar Program. % of juveniles successfully discharged from probation and referred again to the court for a new law violation. % of juveniles on community probation who are referred by the police for a felony law violation. % of parents satisfied with the work of the community probation officer. % of successful discharges from long term institutional placement. 13 15/ 11 6.% <8.%/ 7.5% 85.% 75.%/ 82.% 21.% <2.%/ 16.% 7.3% <1.%/ 7.9% 97.% 9.%/ 94.% 63.63% 75.%/.% 15/ 14 <8.%/ 6.25% >82.%/ 86.% <2.%/ 7.4% <1.%/ 7.6% >9.%/ 91.%.%/ 69.23% <15 <8.% >83.% <2.% <1.% >9.% >7.% 14
Outputs # of juveniles placed on 449 45/ community probation. 47 # of face-to-face contacts with 23,76 22,/ juveniles by community 19,576 probation officers. # of non-traditional hours 5,249 5,/ worked by community 4,89 probation officers. # of contacts between 2,283 2,5/ community probation officers 2,7 and community police officers. # of juveniles placed on the 147 14/ Consent Calendar Program 115 (informal probation). # of foster care placements 33 4/ # of institutional placements (only includes placements of six months or longer) # of P.A.15 State commitments. 49 5/ 42 NA / 45/ 339 18,/ 2,1 5,/ 5,111 2,5/ 1,68 12/ 17 3/ 27 <5/ 32 / 4 >18, >5, >2, 17 3 <4 15
Service Area: Finance & Collections Service Area Mission Statement: To enforce court financial sanctions and enhance the court's integrity and credibility while providing funds to assure victims are made whole and support law enforcement, libraries, the crime victim's rights fund, and local government. Goals To effectively and efficiently collect court ordered financial sanctions. To hold parties accountable and enforce court ordered financial sanctions. Objectives No objective information has been entered Outcomes % of parties with ordered sanctions sent a monthly statement within 6 days of the account being established and an verified address is present. % of parties presenting to the Finance Department from the courtroom who complete a financial assessment and are set up with a payment plan. # of individuals with past due accounts who are scheduled for each show cause afternoon. % of orders to remit completed within 3 days of correctional facility placement. % of jurors paid within 6 business days of completion of jury service. / / 22 225/ 23 83.% 9.%/ 8.% 93.% / 92.% / / 35/ 341 9.%/ 89.% 95.%/ 35 9.% Efficiencies Collections to cost rate (dollar collected/dollar spent)..18.18/.18.18/.16.18 16
Outputs Amount of revenue collected. 3,64,576 3,6,/ 3,662,12 # of statements 165,497 17,/ 132,94 # of wage assignments 351 5/ 361 # of sweep orders 1,414 1,4/ 855 # of assessments 932 1,/ 686 # of order to show cause 21 23/ hearing blocks 23 # of Michigan tax intercepts 8,91 7,/ filed 8,326 # of Financial Bench Warrants 633 6/ (new for 211) 636 3,6,/ 3,949,422 15,/ 128,857 5/ 285 1,4/ 1,14 9/ 57 12/ 12 8,/ 6,99 6/ 446 3,7, 15, 4 1,4 8 12 7, 6 17
Service Area: Court Services Service Area Mission Statement: To plan, develop, and administer quality, cost-effective alternatives to incarceration for appropriate defendants/offenders, which enhance the effectiveness of the local criminal justice system, and thereby serve the needs of the courts and the residents of Kent County. Goal To assist the local criminal justice system by providing alternatives to incarceration/detention. Objectives 85% of defendants placed on supervised release will successfully complete the program. Less than 6% of cases on pretrial supervision will fail to appear (FTA) 85% of defendants placed on diversion will successfully complete all diversion requirements Outcomes % of supervised pretrial release cases that FTA % of eligible felonies recommended for recognizance release % of successfully closed supervised release cases % of diversion cases closed successfully The average number of days from plea to sentence for presumed prison-bound cases. % of presumed prison-bound cases actually sentenced to prison. % of Maximum Supervision (tether) cases that are closed successfully. % of adult community service cases closed successfully % of successful work crew completions 6.% <6.%/ 6.% 4.% 38.%/ 39.% 88.% 85.%/ 84.% 86.% 85.%/.81% 26 3/ 27 83.5% 75.%/ 84.% 98.% 85.%/.93% 8.% 8.%/ 8.% 74.% 65.%/ 66.% <6.%/ 6.% 38.%/ 37.% 85.%/ 83.% 85.%/ 87.% 3/ 27 75.%/ 75.% 85.%/ 91.% 8.%/ 77.% 65.%/ 72.% <6.% >35.% >83.% >85.% <3 75.% >85.% >8.% >65.% 18
% of cases with a Pretrial Risk Assessment recommendation that followed Praxis Risk Level. 94.% 9.%/ 92.% 9.%/ 9.% >85.% Efficiencies # of jail beds saved by pretrial supervision Dollar value of community service hours performed Dollar value of work crew hours performed # of Detention beds saved by juvenile electronic monitoring (tether) 12,197 11,/ 121, $1,48, $1,3,/ $1,4, $39, $425,/ $42, 9,461 9,5/ 8,442 11,/ 12, $1,3,/ $1,6, $425,/ $34, 9,/ 1,245 >115, >$1,35, >$35, >9,5 Outputs # of adult defendants placed on community service # of defendants placed on Work Crew # of defendants enrolled in Maximum Supervision (tether) # of juveniles placed on community service # of juveniles placed on electronic monitoring 2,567 2,5/ 2,5 396 5/ 738 47 35/ 69 398 3/ 22 14 17/ 159 2,5/ 2,442 5/ 535 4/ 9 3/ 25 17/ 18 2,5 >5 55 >215 17 19
Service Area: Office of Community Corrections (OCC) Service Area Mission Statement: To support and expand the use of community sanctions and promote the efficient use of jail/prison beds while protecting public safety. Goal To promote the use of community-based sanctions as a sentencing option for prison and/or jail bound offenders. Objectives Expend 1% of the Michigan Department of Community Corrections service grant. Maintain an overall program enrollment rate of 95% or greater. Outcomes % of program enrollment 117.5% 95.%/ 111.% % of successful terminations 67.% 7.%/ 69.% 95.%/ 117.% 7.%/ 65.1% 7.% Outputs # of eligible OCC offenders served. 1,792 2,5/ 1,731 1,7/ 1,678 1,7 2