“Eli Savit led the city [of Detroit’s] efforts to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for the opioid epidemic. Throughout the ceremony, which was livestreamed on YouTube, Savit emphasized that his campaign was a community effort to improve equity for all. Savit said the Prosecutor’s Office is busy forging partnerships with community organizations outside of the legal system so that they can help guide people to seek out help and resources. “We don’t do any of this alone, and we solicit feedback and input.”. “One-size-fits-all justice is not justice at all,” Savit said. Former prosecutor Brian Mackie served for over 28 years in the position and officially retired on Friday. This section can be locked, requiring permission to view. Auto dealers leaving the family business behind in industry consolidation ... leaving the tenants in a lot of cases out on the street," said Eli Savit, senior adviser and counsel to Duggan. On Friday, his first day in office, Savit rescinded the zero-tolerance policies for criminal acts put in place by the previous administration. “I was regularly asked during my campaign: ‘What is the first thing that you’re going to do in office?’ I said, ‘Rescind the zero-tolerance policy’ -- and I meant it.”. “There were years of work that went into these policy changes,” said Savit, who added that all of the latest measures were the direct result of campaign promises being put into “cognizable policy directives.”. The size of a person’s bank account should never determine their freedom.”. They also answers questions from the public, media and other sources as needed. ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit has made his mark in his first 21 days in office.. In a Jan. 4 press release, Savit announced that the Prosecutor's Office will no longer seek cash bail for all cases, making Washtenaw County the first jurisdiction in Michigan to do so. Rice was a clerk for Elena Kagan. “And one-size-fits-all justice will no longer be dispensed by your prosecutor's office.”. In the release, the prosecutor’s office detailed the specifics of the new policy, which said each case should be treated with the “individual attention it deserves.”, “Every criminal case involves a unique human story,” the press release reads. “We have an excellent bench in terms of judges, phenomenal public defenders, a tremendous sheriff and law enforcement leaders that are committed to thinking about things differently in the justice system because they see on the ground the ways in which we are doing things can be improved upon,” he said. “We all deserve mercy, compassion, justice and equal treatment under the law,” Burton-Harris said. Filed Under: eli savit, low-level juveniles, Michigan, prosecutor, Washtenaw County (CBS DETROIT) – Washtenaw County’s new prosecuting attorney is coming in … “We’re working on building out programs around restorative justice, which gives the survivor a choice in how they want to proceed: the traditional system or an alternative plan in which amends can be made to them. Edited and managed by the students at the University of Michigan since 1890. Since being sworn in on Jan. 1, he has introduced a sweeping set of policy changes, including rescinding the county’s no-tolerance policies, scrapping cash bail and combatting racial profiling — and he’s not done yet.. A wrongful conviction can mean that an innocent person spends years behind bars—away from their family and loved ones—for a crime they didn't commit. If charged with a Domestic Violence in Ann Arbor the case will be heard by Judge Hines who handles all of the domestic violence cases at the 15th District Court.The prosecutor will either be the City of Ann Arbor or the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who took office January 1, today announced that—absent exceptional circumstances—his office would no longer criminally charge low-level juvenile offenses against children. The new policy requires prosecutors to make specific and individualized assessments about the dangerousness and flight risk of the defendant, and to find appropriate non-monetary conditions that protect public safety. More generally, he hopes to work on curbing racially-motivated prosecutions and building an alternative to the juvenile court system so young people who have committed offenses can "grow from their mistakes rather than going through the criminal justice system." Your donations keep our journalism free and independent. After a review of submitted police reports for legal sufficiency of criminal charges, our Office will prosecute all authorized juvenile delinquency and status offense (runaways and truants) cases. “I ran because I thought that the prosecutor’s office -- and the justice system more broadly -- was perpetuating injustice.”. Get unprecedented access to some of the most powerful stories that the media refuses to show you. We’re committed to reporting on the issues that matter most to the community where we live, learn and work. Passionate Prosecutor Eli Savit wants to send many fewer people to prison. Rice was a clerk for Elena Kagan. Savit said there are still several policy directives in the works, one of which is geared toward youth justice. “Cash bail is inherently inequitable and unjust. Do you want to join our private family of first responders and supporters? Some of these policies barred prosecuting attorneys from accepting plea bargains, preventing them from exchanging a lesser sentence for a guilty plea. Of course we’re looking at it and how … to potentially move that forward.” Eli Savit, Democratic candidate for Washtenaw County prosecutor, held up a pocket knife he found on the floor of his car a few days ago and compared it to the knife police have said they found under the floorboard of Blake’s car at the time of the shooting. He also revealed that his office is working on programs that are survivor-driven. Since being sworn in on Jan. 1, he has introduced a sweeping set of policy changes, including rescinding the county’s no-tolerance policies, scrapping cash bail and combatting racial profiling -- and he’s not done yet. Newly elected Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit says the cash bail system doesn’t work. In fact, it was the first policy he put into effect on his first day in office. At the same time, when the wrong person is convicted of a crime, it means that the real perpetrator escapes accountability. He lauded the key players in Washtenaw County who he said are on the same page on how to do justice. Savit was also a former member of Detroit’s senior legal counsel and clerk for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sandra Day O’Connor. “I'm so proud that you guys will both be leading the charge here in Washtenaw (County) for the next four years,” Lakshmanan said. The move by Sheriff Clayton's office follows suit with progressive policy changes made by Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who, since being appointed last … Eli Savit knows institutional changes like the one he just enacted will be hard pills to swallow. Pastor Kevin Casillas made arrangements for Castleman and her family to make a final visit last week. Savit won the August primary election against Democratic challengers Arienne Slay and Hugo Mack, receiving 52% of the vote, and went on to win in an uncontested race in the November general election. “Cash bail is a system in which you are charged with a crime and you’re held in jail before you’re convicted of anything -- unless you can come up with a certain amount of money to pay your way out,” said Savit. Our office will never consent to pretrial release unless we are satisfied that conditions are in place to ensure public safety. ... Family & Friends View All. The family's formidable stock block has been the center of a tug-of-war ever since. Q&A: How Eli Savit plans to reform criminal justice in Washtenaw County By statute, Savit officially took office Jan. 1, replacing outgoing Prosecutor Brian Mackie, who served in office 28 years. He said the new policies introduced by his office should not come as a surprise to community members. The policy also addresses how the cash bail system perpetuates the historical prevelance of discrimination and the racial wealth gap throughout the country because Americans who lack wealth in the United States are more disproportionately likely to be Black. He committed to prioritizing the prosecution of violent crimes and corporate criminals, while supporting courts that specialize in aiding veterans or those struggling with mental health. She covers the community of Ann Arbor and has a Master's degree in International Broadcast Journalism from City University London, UK. Proceeds get reinvested into having active, retired and wounded officers, their families and supporters tell more of these stories. “People want restorative justice, they want to get to the reason behind why people harmed them, so that they can eliminate that harm and it doesn't happen to them again.”. Ending cash bail is often viewed as a way to avoid further criminalizing those of a lower socioeconomic status who cannot afford to bail themselves out of jail. Your donations keep our journalism free and independent. It should be an opportunity to grow and get their lives back on track.”. Eli Savit, University of Michigan Law School alum, was sworn in Saturday afternoon by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack as the new Washtenaw County prosecutor. You can support our work here. Eli Savit is the Prosecuting Attorney-Elect for Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), Michigan. He also spearheads the city’s efforts to make it easier to expunge criminal records. Burton-Harris, Wayne State University Law School alum and longtime attorney for criminal and family law, said their community-led efforts will be the driving force behind the policies and decisions made for the county. by James Leonard. He clarified that individuals who do pose a threat to the public will either be kept in custody or released under certain conditions like house arrest or with a tether, depending on the request of assistant prosecuting attorneys. Eli Savit 2952 Signature Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. From the January, 2021 issue "A punishment- oriented approach does not work," declares Eli Savit, who takes office this month as Washtenaw County's prosecuting attorney. Friday is the first day on the job for new county prosecutor Eli Savit. Hy Savit, 82, beloved husband of Osvelia and the late Florence, nee Friedman; loving father of Robert (Kathleen) Savit and Andrea (D Eli is committed to reviewing and rectifying all wrongful convictions. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. rescinding the county’s no-tolerance policies.