Whitmer Signs Judicial Reform Bills

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a number of updates to Michigan’s judicial process. Among the changes…
• Driver’s licenses will be suspended only for instances of unsafe driving. Suspensions based on situations such as unpaid tickets, failure to appear in court, or drug convictions will be ended. Proponents say that will help those in financial distress keep their jobs, or find new ones.
• Some offenses will be decriminalized, including many traffic violations, which will become civil offenses.
• Police officers will be able to issue court appearance tickets for more infractions, instead of making immediate arrests.
• Juvenile court records will be more tightly sealed, and a process for expunging those records in certain cases will be developed.
• Mandatory minimum jail sentences will be eliminated for some convictions.

The bipartisan series of bills was developed as a way to reduce jail populations, and help those with convictions find and maintain jobs.

Whitmer did not sign a bill that would have allowed a first-time drunk driving conviction to be expunged.