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District judges propose local pilot to speed competency evaluations and reduce jail stays
Summary
District judges reported severe delays at the state's forensic center for competency evaluations and proposed low-cost process changes and a possible Oakland County pilot (including assisted outpatient treatment for misdemeanants) to shorten wait times and ease pressure on jails and other departments.
District-court judges told the finance committee they face long waits for forensic competency evaluations at the state center, sometimes months or more, which strains jails and other county services. A district judge described a spike in defendants needing competency exams and said local fixes could include having attorneys complete medical-release forms while defendants are at court to accelerate referrals and documentation.
Judges said the county could pilot diversion or assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) models for lower-level defendants with serious mental-health needs; they noted such programs require coordination between courts, community mental health and probation and may need modest additional staffing in probate or other departments to manage referrals and follow-ups.
