2023-12-05 04:56:02
The city of Detroit is on track to record the lowest number of annual homicides in nearly six decades, officials reported Monday.
As of Nov. 30, Detroit had recorded 228 homicides, an 18% decrease from the number recorded in the same period last year. In 2018, Detroit had 261 homicides, the lowest number since 1966, when 214 homicides were reported.
City officials attribute that to a partnership between the city, Wayne County and the state of Michigan that improves coordination between agencies and courts. It has also led to a 36% decrease in carjackings and a 13% decrease in non-fatal shootings, they noted.
The coalition was created in late 2021 by County Executive Warren Evans and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to improve the local criminal justice system following the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said the COVID-19 outbreak caused delays in court dockets, forced prisons to release inmates due to lack of space and made it difficult for police and prosecutors to fill vacant positions.
“We are seeing record declines in gun violence in Detroit because every component of the criminal justice system is overcoming the obstacles of COVID and getting back to work,” Duggan said.
A joint fugitive apprehension unit between the city and police department captured nearly 1,000 people wanted on outstanding felony warrants. Priority was given to weapons crimes.
The backlog of felony firearm cases in Wayne County Circuit Court dropped from more than 4,000 in January 2022 to 1,330 as of the end of last month. More than 2,000 felony gun cases pending pretrial in Detroit’s 36th District Court in January 2022 were reduced to 415.
Detroit has added 200 more officers to its ranks this year, while the Wayne County Police Department has begun filling 200 vacancies. Salaries were raised in both departments and in the county attorney’s office.
Prosecutors were also located at Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, improving communication with the city’s homicide investigators.
“This collaboration is unique in that problems are identified, solutions are discussed and implemented,” stated prosecutor Kym Worthy in a press release. “It’s not just regarding talking, talking, talking. “The people at the table are the decision makers, and meaningful work gets done in every meeting.”
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