Crime Victims get Free Ride to Court at Criminals' Expense with Macomb County Prosecutor's New Technology.

• Author: Smith, Eric J.
• Position: Michigan

IN SEPTEMBER, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric J. Smith announced what is likely the nation's first program to use new technology called "Uber Central" to provide free rides from home to court and back for crime victims and witnesses. Under Smith's plan, crime victims get personal chauffeurs to court as he seeks to reduce delays and dismissals that can occur when crime victims or witnesses lack transportation to get to court. Thanks to new technology from Uber, witnesses do not even need to own a smartphone. Smith said his office plans to seek reimbursement as part of court-ordered restitution costs paid by convicted defendants.

"We are literally going the extra mile to fight crime," said Smith. "Using new technology, my office is helping crime victims get a ride to court. We can monitor their ride progress, and even greet our witnesses when they get dropped off at court. Crime victims deserve respect, and helping them get to court is one way we show that respect."

Smith said a court case can be delayed or even dismissed when a crime victim or witness fails to appear and testify in court, which may happen if a crime victim has no transportation.

Alisha Steward of Macomb Township, the victim in an assault case, said, "I felt safe getting a ride because I was worried that if I used my car, someone who knows my car could have followed me home from court." She benefited from Smith's crime victim service by receiving a ride home from the Mount Clemens Circuit Court last December.

"It was very helpful because I cannot drive due to injuries I suffered as the victim of a crime," said a crime victim whose name is being withheld at his request, and who used the service in April to get to the Clinton Township District Court. "The service was excellent. It worked like it was supposed to work." He is a stabbing victim. If he had not appeared in court prepared to testify, it's possible the felony case could have been dismissed and his alleged attacker could have been released. He and his brother used Smith's crime victim service to get from home to court in Clinton Township.

When a crime victim does not have a ride to court, Smith's Crime Victim Advocate team may now use new technology called Uber Central to request a ride on the crime victim's behalf. No smartphone, no problem. The Uber Central service automatically calls crime victims on their home phone when their ride is coming, and lets the prosecutor's office know witnesses are on the way to court on...