In recent years, Michigan has made small steps to make judicial system a little more accessible to the masses. A notable development is the launch of the Michigan Interactive Court Data Dashboard by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO).
While this tool offers some public access to trial court statistics and enables users to explore data (by year, court, county, case type, and more), there is room for improvement in terms of addressing sentencing disparities, upward departures, and adherence to plea deals, as well as reasons for staying.
In short, data that would curtail court and prosecutorial misconduct, and allow voters to make more informed decisions.
The Dashboard’s Achievements
The Interactive Court Data Dashboard represents a commendable effort to modernize the state’s judiciary. By transitioning from static PDF reports to Microsoft PowerBI, users have access to a limited set of user-friendly visualizations. Users can compare courts of similar sizes, analyze case dispositions, and review clearance and case age rates, fostering a more informed citizenry.
However, more work is needed. The dashboard offers opportunity for public engagement, but can do more when it comes to education.
Areas for Enhancement
While the dashboard is a significant step in the right direction, there are areas where it could be further developed to provide a more comprehensive view of the judicial process:
- Sentencing Guideline Adherence: Currently, the dashboard lacks data on how sentencing aligns with established guidelines. Incorporating this information would allow for analysis of sentencing consistency across different courts and demographics, promoting fairness and accountability, allowing the legislature to see if their efforts are working, making the case for funding problem-solving courts, adjusting sentencing guidelines, etc.
- Demographic Data Integration: Including demographic information related to defendants and outcomes could shed light on potential disparities within the justice system, enabling targeted reforms.
- Expanded Performance Metrics: While the dashboard provides some caseload statistics, the future addition of metrics such as case processing times, backlog rates, understanding cases with complaints, could offer better and deeper insights into court efficiency and areas needing improvement.
Looking Ahead
Transparency and accountability are areas severely in need of attention. By addressing the areas outlined above, the Interactive Court Data Dashboard can evolve into a more powerful tool for accountability and reform. Engaging with stakeholders, including legal professionals, researchers, and the public, will be crucial in guiding these enhancements.
For those interested in exploring the current dashboard and its features, visit the Michigan Interactive Court Data Dashboard.
Note: This blog post is based on information available as of April 2025. For the most current updates and features, please refer to the official dashboard link provided above.
