Detroit Police Department consent decree ruling
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July 16, 2009
Michigan: On July 16, 2009, Judge Julian Cook called the Detroit Police Department into his courtroom to express his criticism towards the department on compliance with two consent decrees issued in 2003. He stated: "I have called this open session of the court because of my extreme displeasure with the progress that has been made."
In 2003, Cook issued a decree ordering federal monitoring for the Wayne County Jail after the Detroit Police was found liable for using excessive force on and violating the civil rights of prisoners. The City of Detroit pays $2 million annually for the federal monitoring. However, Judge Cook called the Detroit Police's compliance towards the consent decree "grossly inadequate." The Department has achieved only 39 percent compliance with the order. Cook criticized the Detroit Police for wasting taxpayer dollars as he felt that, "millions being spent on a federal monitor could better be spent on education and other ways to help the city."
Representatives for the Detroit Police informed Judge Cook that the department had plans to shift the responsibility of handling prisoners to the Wayne County Sheriffs Office. The Wayne County Board of Supervisors voted against the plan to handle prisoners after Judge Cook's order 2003 was issued. The Detroit Police will ask the Wayne County Board to approve the plan in order to be compliant with Judge Cook's 2003 order.[1]
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan
State courts:
Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan Court of Claims • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Municipal Courts • Michigan Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan
