ELI SAVIT

An apparent domestic violence shooting in Saline Thursday raises questions about the effectiveness of personal protection orders.

Several streets on U-M's campus will be closed Saturday for the annual Hash Bash and Monroe Street Fair.

Hash Bash, which celebrates all things marijuana, returns to Ann Arbor this weekend.

Sign up for one of 14 free workshops--or all of them--during Washtenaw Community College’s second annual Liberal Arts Week.

With the swipe of a pen, President Joe Biden wiped marijuana use or possession offenses off the records of thousands of Americans.

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit responded to a new Michigan Court of Appeals ruling on abortion.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is making it quite clear she’s not giving up the fight for the right for abortion, even it means taking that battle to State Supreme Court.

The right to abortions has been widely debated among Americans and lawmakers alike in recent years -- a debate that has nearly reached a boiling point today, given that the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide this summer whether to overturn a landmark 1973 abortion ruling.

The right to abortions has been widely debated among Americans and lawmakers alike in recent years -- a debate that has nearly reached a boiling point today, given a new Texas law that could potentially impact national abortion regulations.

Held annually since 1972, the 50th-anniversary event will highlight the cannabis industry, marijuana legislation and cannabis activism.

A judge has temporarily halted parties at an Eastern Michigan University fraternity where social gatherings have been linked to numerous sexual assaults in recent years.

Happy Tuesday!

A prosecutor has filed a lawsuit to try to temporarily stop parties hosted by a fraternity at Eastern Michigan University, citing sexual assaults and excessive alcohol consumption.

Here are 10 of our A4 team's favorite interviews from 2021.

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office announced the establishment of a new Economic Justice Unit.

Officials in Washtenaw County are making major changes in the counties approach to criminal justice.

It was an all hands on deck effort this past weekend to repair a Black Lives Matter mural that was defaced in September in Ypsilanti.

On Sunday, Sept. 19, community members will gather on the University of Michigan Diag for the inaugural Entheofest, a festival highlighting psychedelic plants and fungi.

“This is a survivor driven-program that survivors can choose to enter," Savit said.

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office will now give crime survivors a choice in how they'd like their case to proceed.

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit condemns new abortion ban in Texas.

With the passing of a state law allowing Michiganders to expunge their records, Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit wants those in the region to know they can have a clean slate if needed.

An Ann Arbor man is facing several charges after allegedly violently assaulting a woman for being transgender -- a hate crime in the state of Michigan.

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced on Thursday that a defendant accused of shooting a 6-year-old boy in Ypsilanti Township on Sunday is back in custody.

Unlike conventional diversion programs, eligible defendants will be able to enter the program before entering a guilty plea.

On Saturday, protestors from the Ann Arbor area and Detroit marched down Washtenaw Avenue to honor George Floyd and other victims of police brutality.

On Wednesday, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit issued a Prosecutor’s Office’s Directive on respecting the gender identity of transgender, intersex and gender-nonconforming community members.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office will no longer pursue charges against those who work consensually in the sex industry. They said that when sex work is legal, sex trafficking tended to increase and not decrease. Indeed the criminalization of sex work actually increases the risk of sex work adjacent harm. Accordingly, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office will henceforth decline to bring charges related to consensual sex work per se. READ: Human trafficking survivor takes fight for change to LansingChrissy Hemphill is an advocate for human trafficking survivors.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Washtenaw County is looking to fill three new positions in the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office. “As a Board, we are committed to supporting efforts to increase the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in Washtenaw County,” said Sue Shink, Chair of the Board of Commissioners and Commissioner for District 2, in a release. “The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will build on the racial equity work already being done by the county,” said Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton in a release. Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion / Deflection ProsecutorWithin the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, this role will oversee all cases that have been diverted through the LEADD program, track program participant progress and ensure participant needs are addressed. Program CoordinatorWorking in the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, the program coordinator is responsible for daily operations of the LEADD program, including coordinating with community partners to design, implement, and sustain program activities.

John Prine leads the finale of the 41st Ann Arbor Folk Festival in 2018. Before we take a deep dive into this past week’s news, the 44th Ann Arbor Folk Festival kicks off tonight. (A4)Ad🧪️ Ann Arbor startup LynxDx is currently the second leading COVID testing lab in Michigan. (Washington Post)AdGood to know:🍲 Pop-up restaurants are on the rise in Ann Arbor as eateries think of creative ways to keep revenue flowing. Ad🦠 COVID WATCH: For daily COVID-19 news and analysis in Michigan, sign up for ClickOnDetroit’s Morning Report newsletter.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The new Washtenaw County prosecutor, Eli Savit, weighed in on what drove him to run for that position and what has inspired him to drive so much change. “We are really focused on equity in our justice system,” Savit said. READ: Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit scraps cash bailThree days into his term, he scrapped cash bail. READ: Washtenaw County prosecutor announces office will no longer pursue charges for consensual sex workOn Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Savit announced a new policy to combat racial profiling in Washtenaw County. READ: Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office announces new policy to fight racial profilingSavit said he wants Washtenaw County to serve as an example for the rest of the state.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The juvenile justice system is no longer Washtenaw County’s go-to option when children and teens are accused of minor crimes. Since his term started, Savit has introduced sweeping policy changes to the county’s justice system, including rescinding the county’s no-tolerance policies, scrapping cash bail and combatting racial profiling. “All of this gives rise to a simple conclusion: Our justice system needs to treat kids like kids. Fights involving injuries and/or weapons on or off school property will be dealt with at the discretion of the prosecutor’s office. Petitions can be authorized by APAs if a continued threat to the safety of others is indicated or if the case is “more severe than typical school-related misbehavior.”Find the full policy directive here.

ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit has made his mark in his first 21 days in office. “I am a believer in the justice system based on what you did and not who you are,” said Savit. Three days later, Savit put Washtenaw County on the map by making it the first county in Michigan to scrap cash bail. Kids aren’t just mini adults and we shouldn’t be trapping them in the criminal legal system for adolescent or childhood mistakes. For instance, he said he’d rather see people deal with drug use through the health system rather than the legal system.

ANN ARBOR – The Washtenaw Reads program is an initiative by local public libraries to encourage reading and civic dialogue. One book is selected each year and participating libraries include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, Salem-South Lyon, Saline and Ypsilanti. This year’s Washtenaw Read is “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. For more information about the book, to see the authors’ websites and to discover related titles for people of all ages, click here. According to the Ann Arbor District Library’s website, Washtenaw Reads books should meet the following criteria:

ANN ARBOR – The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office announced today a new policy aimed at combatting racial profiling. The policy directive is only applicable to “consent searches” after routine ordinance or traffic stops. “We are sending a message that we are not interested in pursuing contraband charges that stem from racial profiling. Our Policy Regarding Pretext Stops is another proactive step towards creating a criminal justice system that works for all of us. None of us are free, until we are all free.”To read the full policy directive, click here.

Ann Arbor Public Schools made a major announcement this week: The district aims to return to hybrid in-person learning sometime in early March. While this is a lot to take in, parents should know that virtual learning will still be an option once in-person learning returns. (MLive)🎙 These city of Ann Arbor offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. (A4)🎻 UMS has canceled all of its in-person performances through the end of April due to the ongoing pandemic. All About Ann Arbor is powered by ClickOnDetroit/WDIV.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office will no longer pursue charges against those who work consensually in the sex industry. “We are focused on crime that really harms the community,” said Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit. Charges will not be filed against consensual sex workers, officials said. The prosecutor will still work cases against human traffickers and those who may be holding people against their will. READ: Washtenaw County Prosecutor no longer pursuing charges for consensual sex work

ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Thursday that his office will no longer press criminal charges in consensual sex work cases. Savit said that his office will continue to “vigorously pursue” sex work crimes, including sexual and physical assault, human trafficking and crimes involving children. “The criminalization of sex work actually increases the risk of sex work-adjacent harm,” reads the 8-page policy directive issued to Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys. Furthermore, research papers in the world’s leading independent medical journal, The Lancet, conclude that decriminalizing sex work can reduce new HIV infections. “Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the American Civil Liberties Union have all called for the decriminalization of sex work,” reads the directive.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – It was recently announced that Washtenaw County will no longer pursue charges related to marijuana and entheogenic plants. Read: Washtenaw County Prosecutor: No more charges in cannabis, psychedelic plant casesThis means indictments such as possession and distribution related to marijuana or shrooms will all be off the table from a legal standpoint. They can focus on the people who are doing real crime in the community, then it’s definitely worth it,” said a Washtenaw County woman who also chose not to be identified. We should no longer continue to perpetuate the cruel roulette wheel that imposes criminal consequences only on an unlucky few,” said Savit. Criminal charges can still be filed against large-scale operations that are distributing controlled substances if the health of the public is at risk.

Marijuana plants are pictured at the Baker's marijuana nursery at Baker Medical Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Tuesday that his office will no longer bring charges in cases related to marijuana or entheogenic plant use, possession or small-scale distribution. Today, I’m pleased to announce that we'll no longer be charging cases related to marijuana or entheogenic plants (naturally occurring psychedelics). If Washtenaw County’s largest city’s resolution decriminalized the use, growth and possession of psychedelic plants, the Prosecutor’s Office sees no point in bringing charges forward elsewhere in the county. For that reason, we will no longer be contesting expungement for marijuana or entheogenic-related offenses.”See the full policy directives for cannabis and marijuana and entheogenic plants.

But here in Ann Arbor and in greater Washtenaw County, some major stories developed as well. Meanwhile, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit made several policy changes in his first week in office, including scrapping cash bail. Washtenaw County is the first jurisdiction in the state to eliminate cash bail. (MLive)🎤 Jeff Daniels will emcee the virtual 44th Ann Arbor Folk Festival on Jan. 29 and 30. (MLive)Good to know:🖌 Here’s a great socially distant activity: Explore these downtown murals commissioned by the Ann Arbor Art Center -- map included.

ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Tuesday the launch of the “Prosecutor Transparency Project” in partnership with University of Michigan’s Law School and the ACLU of Michigan. The project, which begins immediately, aims to uncover possible racial inequities by analyzing data surrounding decision-making by the prosecutor’s office. “We know systemic racism exists in all facets of society, and the Prosecutor’s Office is no exception. Finally, in consultation with researchers, the Prosecutor’s Office will identify metrics to track to ensure equitable treatment. He has spent years compiling and analyzing data from Michigan’s criminal justice system, was the data consultant for the CREW report and has served as Data Administrator for Michigan’s Criminal Justice Policy Commission.

Here’s what you missed on Local 4 News at 5:Washtenaw County prosecutor to eliminate use of cash bail in any caseWashtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Monday that the Prosecutor’s Office will eliminate the use of cash bail in any case. Savit, who took office on Jan. 1, alerted staff Monday morning in a 20-page policy directive. According to the directive, cash bail “is a system under which a defendant who has been accused of a crime is required to post money in order to secure release from jail pending trial.”

ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Monday that the Prosecutor’s Office will eliminate the use of cash bail in any case. Savit, who took office on Jan. 1, alerted staff Monday morning in a 20-page policy directive. The move has made Washtenaw County the first jurisdiction in the state to eliminate cash bail. Washington, D.C. and New Jersey have stopped seeking cash bail, as well as the city of San Francisco and counties in Vermont and Virginia. According to the directive, cash bail places poorer people at risk of losing their jobs, homes and can place serious harm on children of defendants.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced that he is rescinding “zero-tolerance” policies that were previously used by the prosecutor’s office. The policies prevented certain defendants from going through substance-use treatment or rehabilitation options in lieu of incarceration. A one-sized-fits-all approach to justice—divorced from the factual circumstances of each unique case—is not justice at all. I said repeatedly during my campaign that my first act as Prosecutor would be to eliminate ‘zero-tolerance policies,’ and we’ve done that today. Everyone involved in the justice system—crime survivors, defendants, witnesses, and families—deserves to have their unique case treated with the care that it deserves.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – On Saturday, Oct. 17, a forum will take place at South Lillie Park addressing disparities among the Black community in Washtenaw County. At the “Getting Real About Race” community forum, activists and public officials will discuss issues in five different areas including education, housing, healthcare, employment and the criminal justice system. The forum is scheduled to take place from 2-6 p.m. Anticipated speakers include U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, Ypsilanti Mayor Lori Richardson, Washtenaw County Prosecutor-Elect Eli Savit and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, among many others according to the event page. South Lillie Park is at 4365 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor.