Wayne County committee extends high-crime grant to help prosecutor reduce case backlog

The Wayne County Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security approved Amendment 1 to a 26-month High Crime Community Support Grant with the Michigan Department of Treasury that extends the grant term to Sept. 30, 2026, with no change in its dollar amount.

Tony Guerrero, chief of legislation, grants and community relations for Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy, told the committee the grant is intended "to address case backlogs through retention, recruitment, equipment, and training." Guerrero said $2.5 million was expended in the period that ended Sept. 30, 2025, and that about 3,700 cases "have been reviewed and decisions have been made to either approve the charges or deny. And they're waiting to get into the system because we don't have enough typists to be able to move it along."

Guerrero said the request is for a term extension only and that Chair Bell had previously granted a 60-day exigent approval in accordance with the county procurement ordinance. The committee approved the amendment on a motion by Commissioner Wilson, supported by Commissioner Peterson Mayberry; the meeting record states simply, "Motion carried."

Committee members did not record additional roll-call vote tallies in the transcript. No change in the grant dollar amount was stated in the discussion. The item was presented as new business and occurred before a separate contract item for evidence management software also on the agenda.

The extension keeps the grant active while county staff continue to process reviewed cases and address staffing needs for data entry, according to Guerrero.