Looking to address the heavy burden of unpaid child support, which currently amounts to about $312 million in Macomb County, Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido has proposed the creation of Michigan's first child support specialty court. This pilot program, detailed in an announcement made last Thursday, is designed to assist parents who are behind on their payments, guiding them towards employment and allowing them to catch up on arrears while avoiding felony convictions, which often hinder job prospects.
The specialty court would work similarly to other diversion programs, focusing on structured supervision and support services rather than immediately resorting to criminal penalties. "Our goal is simple: get children the support they’re owed while addressing the barriers that keep parents from paying," Lucido said, per Macomb County's official news site. By prioritizing compliance over prosecution, Lucido's office has already had a measure of success, having previously launched a program in 2022 that collected over $3 million in child support from delinquent parents.
The proposed specialty court would allow eligible defendants to enter a plea of guilty with sentencing deferred pending their completion of a yearlong program under court oversight. This program includes regular payments, maintaining employment, and facing structured consequences for any violations, such as missed payments or voluntary unemployment. A cornerstone of this initiative is employment assistance, potentially including paid skilled-trades training facilitated by connections with Michigan Works and other workforce programs.
Lucido emphasized the community-first approach, saying, "This is about finding solutions that work for families, not just punishing nonpayment." The goal is to help children and reduce the taxpayer burden by ensuring parents can sustainably fulfil their obligations. To oversee the program, an advisory committee comprising judges, probation officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, Friend of the Court staff, and commissioners will be established, Lucido told Macomb County's news site. Additional bipartisan legislation sought by the prosecutor could extend the court's authority, allowing it to defer sentencing for up to five years as opposed to the current one-year limit, which would give parents with substantial debts a more extended period to manage their child support repayments.
