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Job Court
Attorney General Dana Nessel asks you to help reduce crime and protect public safety by joining Job Court.
This new initiative brings together local and state law enforcement partners, the courts, and private businesses, with the goal of diverting eligible defendants out of the criminal justice system and into good paying job.
If you are interested in participating as an Employer for the State of Michigan’s 2022 Job Court program, please complete the short survey to determine your eligibility.
What is Job Court?
Pilot Program
Job Court is a prosecutorial diversion pilot program that aims to reduce recidivism and help businesses by providing Michiganders accused of low-level, non-assaultive offenses with the opportunity to obtain and maintain gainful employment.
Eligible Counties
Up to 450 eligible defendants across the counties of Genesee, Marquette, and Wayne, will be matched with participating employers to receive good-paying jobs, training to learn transferable career skills, and community-based wrap around services to assist in successful completion of the program.
One-year Program
Job Court participants who successfully complete the one-year program will be provided with the opportunity to dismiss their eligible charges and hopefully be on a pathway to a better future.
What do we ask of our Job Court employers?
Job Court will match participating companies with a Case Manager who will monitor participants in the program during their employment. The Case Manager will work closely with employers to ensure each participant is in compliance with program requirements.
To participate in Job Court, a business must be able to offer the following:
- Provide sufficient work to a participant for full-time employment.
- Provide on-the-job supervision for the participant.
- Provide an orientation and any required training, resources, or equipment for participant.
- Cooperate and communicate with the Case Manager.
- Submit written attendance and evaluation logs, as needed.
What do we expect of our Job Court participants?
Eligible Job Court participants will be selected for the pilot program by the Local County Prosecutor. Only those who have been charged with a low-level, non-assaultive crime can be eligible to participant in the program. The Prosecutor will evaluate eligible defendants for potential participation on a case-by-case basis by considering things like: suitability for employment, past criminal history, and potential impact on the public safety.
Once enrolled, participants in the program will work full-time for a designated Job Court Employer. To successfully complete the program, the participant must satisfactorily maintain their employment. The participant will be monitored during the program to ensure that he or she is meeting program requirements and to assist the Employer in the event the participant falls below expectations.
Participants who successfully complete one-year in the program will be eligible to have their charges dismissed.
Contact us
If you are interested in participating as an employer for the State of Michigan Job Court pilot program, please contact our department.