Michigan Group Seeks Overhaul of Court Cost Collection Process

A report issued Thursday unveiled a new way for Michigan courts to handle costs in criminal cases, which its authors say disincentives judges to impose excessive costs on defendants to pay for operations.

The model laid out by the Michigan Judicial Council needs legislative support to go into effect. But the architects say it’ll ensure local courts get the money they need to operate and that defendants who can’t pay costs don’t face unnecessary and ineffective consequences.

“With our new funding model, we think we can break the corrupting link between the court’s job in justice and the court’s obligation ...