Contract Opportunity Available: Michigan State Judicial Outreach Liaison

The criminal justice system plays a critical role in deterring unsafe driving behaviors and assigning appropriate consequences for impaired driving and other traffic offenses. From arrest to prosecution to sentencing and post-disposition, it is important that all stakeholders in the criminal justice system are aware of the efforts being made to reduce traffic fatalities. To that end, peer-to-peer training, education, and outreach are most effective in promoting proven and promising practices. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning have supported the development of a network of criminal justice professionals, including the State Judicial Outreach Liaison (SJOL), who utilizes peer-to-peer education, training and technical assistance to further the goal of reducing traffic-related offenses. In Michigan, the SJOL role is housed within the judicial branch.

The Michigan Supreme Court’s State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI) is seeking an independent contractor to act as the SJOL. This is a grant-funded role starting immediately and continuing through September 30, 2024, with the possibility of annual extensions, depending upon performance and continued grant funding. Preference will be given to an individual with prior SJOL or Regional JOL (RJOL) experience.

Compensation: $56.25 per hour up to $40,000.00 per year; potential for annual renewal.

Duties

Provide Training and Education

• Develop a network of contacts and promote peer-to-peer judicial education related to sentencing and supervision of DWI offenders, evidentiary issues, legal updates and alcohol/drug testing, and monitoring technology
• Present at the Michigan Judicial Institute and other State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) seminars, state highway safety conferences and state judicial conferences
• Present at meetings, conferences, workshops and other professional association gatherings, focusing on impaired driving
• Identify barriers that hamper effective training, education, or outreach to the courts and recommend alternative means to address these issues and concerns

Promote Evidence-Based and Promising Practices

• Promote development and use of DWI Courts
• Promote use of ignition interlocks and improvements to alcohol ignition interlock programs
• Promote other evidence-based and promising court, sentencing and supervision practices

Share Information and Coordinate With Other Criminal Justice Professionals

• Consult regularly with Judicial Fellows, RJOLs, and other SJOLs, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors and others regarding outreach efforts and opportunities
• Remain informed on emerging impaired-driving issues and on possible strategies to address those issues
• Serve on the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission Impaired Driving Action Team (GTSAC-IDAT)

Liaise Between Courts and Policymakers

• Identify issues of concern to judges, magistrates, court administrators, probation officers, and other court officials regarding impaired driving or other traffic safety issues and bring them to the attention of the MJI/SCAO
• Identify topics of concern to highway safety officials and work with the judicial community to develop a better understanding of the topics by sharing research and data
• Upon request, review material developed by others and provide comments and judicial insights
• When invited, assist legislators and policymakers on impaired driving and other highway safety issues
• Advise members of the judiciary and criminal justice officials on potential sources of funding and resources

Provide Assistance to the State Court Administrative Office Field Services’ Problem- Solving Court Team

• Consult with team members to determine specialty court training needs
• Review and make recommendations regarding annual grant requirements and determinations
• Provide presentations to problem-solving courts, when appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• A former Michigan judge with extensive experience handling impaired driving and other traffic-related cases
  
• Experience in DWI court
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn about other Michigan-specific specialty courts, and alcohol ignition interlock systems
• A strong desire to increase public safety using research-based practices to reduce impaired driving
• An understanding of the structure of Michigan’s state courts and the courts’ authority to impose interventions
• Knowledge of the role of other state and local administrative agencies
• An understanding of the statutes, court rules and caselaw that support traffic safety
• A working relationship with the State Court Administrative Office
• A working relationship with MJI, including familiarity with principles of adult education
• Experience presenting substantive information to groups of judicial and non-judicial audiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Windows

Work Location and Additional Requirements

This is a remote position. The candidate selected must obtain and utilize his/her own work space, equipment, tools and technology, including computers, monitors, and all other items needed to perform the required work.

To Apply

Please send your cover letter, résumé or vitae, three professional references and one writing sample in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) to [email protected]. Please include “State Judicial Outreach Liaison position” in the subject line. The position will remain open until filled.