Measures for Justice

What if everyone had access to the same court data? With Michigan's commitment to transparency, that’s now a reality.

Through our partnership with the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office, court data is now available for anyone to explore, helping communities and courts work from the same set of facts.

Because when everyone is working from the same set of facts, better conversations and outcomes are the result.

Want to learn more? Visit: https://app.measuresforjustice.org/portal/MI?c=6

Our work wouldn’t be possible without our strong partners committed to transparency.

We’re proud of our partnership with the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office to bring Michigan court data to the public through our National Data Portal.

Together, we’re making it easier for people across the state to understand what’s happening in their courts and to use that information to drive meaningful change.

Want to see the data? Visit: https://app.measuresforjustice.org/portal/MI?c=6

We’re excited to share that Michigan court data is now publicly available through the Measures for Justice National Data Portal.🎉

In partnership with the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office, this commitment to transparency gives courts, communities, and interestholders a new way to explore how the justice system is working across the state.

More access to data = more informed conversations.

Want to learn more? Visit : https://app.measuresforjustice.org/portal/MI?c=6

Data has the power to change stories—and systems.

When outdated records told one story about zero bail, modernized data revealed another: one rooted in accuracy, fairness, and trust.

Learn more by reading our blog Why High-Quality Data is Essential for Policy Decisions: Lessons from Zero Bail here: https://measuresforjustice.org/news/why-high-quality-data-is-essential-for-policy-decisions-lessons-from-zero-bail/

Sometimes, criminal justice data is technically public, but practically inaccessible. Information may live in outdated portals, disconnected spreadsheets, or systems that don’t communicate with one another.

When data is difficult to access, public understanding decreases, accountability weakens, and decision-making slows down. Transparency only works if people can actually use the information being shared.

Using Data to Design Better Systems: Thurston County's Story.

When the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office improved how it managed data across its office, the impact was immediate: fewer errors, faster workflows, and real savings for the community.

Through our partnership, we helped them clean up outdated systems, tighten data entry processes, and ensure prosecutors spend more time serving the public, not fixing paperwork.

This is what better data looks like in action.
🔗 Read about their data journey: https://measuresforjustice.org/news/a-district-attorneys-office-saves-time-andmoney-using-data-yep-its-true/

Across the U.S., criminal justice agencies often track and report data using different definitions, formats, and systems. That means two counties may report the “same” metric in completely different ways, making meaningful comparison difficult or impossible.

Without data standardization:
- policymakers struggle to evaluate outcomes
- communities struggle to understand systems
- agencies struggle to identify what’s working

Transparency isn’t just about publishing data. It’s about making data usable.📊

Too often, conversations about the justice system happen in silos. But we don’t need more noise, we need better conversations. The MFJ Collective creates space for thoughtful, informed dialogue about the justice system.
🔗 Be part of it: https://mfj-collective.measuresforjustice.org/

Data Confidence Tip of the Week 💡

Align data with decisions. Data shouldn’t just sit in a report.

It should connect to real choices that affect neighborhoods—like where resources go, what programs expand, and how safety strategies evolve.

When data leads to visible action, communities can see how information turns into impact.

Celebrating one year with Rob, our Director of IT & DevOps! 🎉

Over the past year, Rob has helped keep MFJ running smoothly by supporting the hardware, software, systems, security, and infrastructure our teams rely on every day. From solving complex challenges to strengthening the systems behind our work, his impact is felt across the organization.

What keeps him motivated? A belief that transparency, accessibility, and accountability in the criminal justice system are causes worth working toward every day. Outside of work, you can find Rob gardening, cycling, singing in choir, or spending time with his wife and their cats and rabbits.

Thank you for everything you bring to MFJ, Rob — we’re grateful to have you on the team!