It Took Two Years and a Sheriff Driving Door to Door, But SOCD Got Its MOU

In 2016, the then-Chief Judge required Street Outreach Court Detroit to formalize its operations with a Memorandum of Understanding—a reasonable ask, but an unforeseen two-year odyssey. Draft after draft. Stakeholder after stakeholder. Getting busy elected officials to make an MOU a priority is its own kind of advocacy.
When the finish line was finally in sight and signatures were still outstanding, one sheriff didn't wait. He got in his car and drove to every remaining signatory himself.
Street Outreach Court Detroit reopened in January 2018 with full formal approval—and a coalition that had fought to make it happen.