By K.D. Norris
Criminal justice in West Michigan was the stated topic of the American Civil Liberties Union Michigan’s “In/Justice” expert panel and community discussion at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre Wednesday, June 28.
“Questions about the relationship between police, prosecutors and citizens continue to dominate the American consciousness,” stated the flyer advertising the meeting, which was attended by more than 200 persons. “The forum brings together community groups and public officials to discuss the causes and solutions to problems with criminal justice in Grand Rapids.”
But Grand Rapids Police Department Chief David Rahinsky and Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, two of the forum panelists, fielded most of the questions from moderator and local attorney Anthony Green, and often had to defend the organizations they lead.
Responding to a question about the high number of persons who committed non-violent crimes but end up in prison, Becker pointed out that 73 percent of Michigan Department of Corrections prisoners are violent offenders and that while the federal prison average is about 50 percent drug offenders, the percentage in Kent County is about 7 percent.
In addition to Rahinsky and Becker, other members of the panel included Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack (District 17; City of Grand Rapids) and ACLU Michigan Legislative Director Shelli Weisberg.
Weisberg set the tone of racial disparity in Michigan’s criminal justice system early on when she said: “We incarcerate to many people, but we incarcerate far too many black and brown people.”
Responding to another question from Green, this one on race relations between the police force and minority communities — “The perception is that nothing has changed,” Green said — Rahinsky agreed that a recent report on GRPD traffic stops does show a level of disparity and that his department is taking action to improve race relations and lessen racial disparity in criminal justice.
“We took that report to heart,” Rahinsky said. “We are in the midst of a battle … collectively, we are making progress.”
Womack, at one point, while agreeing that problems exist with the Grand Rapids police force’s criminal justice enforcement involving minority communities, did offer his support of the police chief.
“We are far from having the relationship we need to have,” Womack said. But “I believe we have the right police chief.”
Other topics discussed in the early part of the community meeting related to bail recommendations and the inability of some low-income persons to pay bail for non-violent offenses, the idea of prosecutors over-charging crimes to allow for easier plea bargains, and action by the ACLU to bring about a fairer criminal justice laws in Michigan.
