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PAGE 6 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN September 17, 2020

NORTHVILLE - WAYNE
NORTHVILLE - WAYNE

Former Wayne judge named to national post

State Court Administrator In the report of the advisory
Emeritus, Milton Mack, Jr., has ” committee, The Future is Now:
been appointed to serve on a Given that our justice system is all too often the Decriminalization of Mental
national task force to assist state default mental health system, the work of this task Illness, the reform plan is based
courts in more effectively on a community-by-community
responding to the needs of court- force is timely, essential, and lifesaving. approach with statewide leader-
involved individuals with serious ship; use of the Sequential
mental illness. The 40-member Intercept Model to promote early
group includes four state access to treatment; develop-
supreme court chief justices, Bridget M. McCormack. “Milt's direct result of that work. ment of best practices, research,
four state court administrators, incredible experience and McCormak noted that the task and data; education and training
and wide range of experts from knowledge on this challenging force faces challenges as current- for judges and court personnel
across the nation. issue will help courts become the ly jails are the largest providers and building on the important
Mack, a Wayne resident and catalyst for diverting individuals of mental health services in the work already done to address the
former judge at the 29th District to treatment instead of jail or nation and 44 percent of jail opioid epidemic.
Court, has long been an advocate prison.” inmates have been told they have A probate court judge for two
for mental health reform, pro- Since spring of last year, Mack a mental health disorder. In addi- decades, Mack is the former
moting early intervention and has co-chaired (with Indiana tion, an estimated 70 percent of State Court Administrator, chair
treatment instead of incarcera- Supreme Court Chief Justice justice-involved youths suffer of the Governor's Mental Health
tion. Paul Reiber) a national advisory from a mental health disorder Diversion Council, and has long
“Given that our justice system committee funded by the State and people with mental illness been an advocate for mental Milton Mack, Jr.
is all too often the default mental Justice Institute to improve the are 16 times more likely to be health reform. Batty, who previously served as
health system, the work of this justice system response to men- killed than other civilians when Mack will be joined on the the court administrator for the
task force is timely, essential, and tal illness and co-occurring disor- approached or stopped by law task force by Washtenaw County Washtenaw County trial courts
lifesaving,” said Chief Justice ders, and this new task force is a enforcement. Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Kent and Third Judicial Circuit Court.
Northville financial report is honored for 7th year

For the seventh con-
secutive year, the ”
Charter Township of
Northville has been Northville Township is proud
awarded the
Government Finance to be one of only 27 communities
Officers Association in Michigan to be recognized,
(GFOA) Distinguished
Budget Presentation out of nearly 1,800 cities,
Award. villages and townships.
Northville Township
received the award for
satisfying nationally rec-
ognized guidelines for
effective budget presentation which budgeting. Northville Township is proud
assess how well the township budget to be one of only 27 communities in
serves as a policy document, a financial Michigan to be recognized, out of nearly
plan, an operations guide, and a commu- 1,800 cities, villages and townships, a
nications device. The award represents a spokesman noted.
significant achievement by Northville To view Northville Township's current
Township and reflects the commitment of budget document and additional informa-
Northville Township Treasurer Fred Shadko accepts the Government Finance Officers the board of trustees and staff to meeting tion, please visit https://www.twp.
Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. the highest principles in governmental northville.mi.us/budget.