A new state program has Michigan State Police troopers swapping citations for compassion—by handing out gift cards and other basic supplies to Michiganders in need.
MICHIGAN—State cops are deploying a new tool to use during their patrols this year—and it could provide a small boost to hundreds of Michiganders who need some help affording car repairs, gasoline, food, or other basic supplies like car seats, winter clothing, and diapers.
It’s called the Safety Net Partnership.
And in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), all State Police troopers will now be equipped with $25 pre-paid gift cards, which they can pass out at their discretion during their patrols when there is a “clear and apparent need” for assistance.
“Our troopers interact with individuals who may not have access to basic essentials,” Col. James Grady, director of the Michigan State Police, said in a statement. “Troopers now have an immediate way to provide stop-gap assistance to individuals we come across who are in need.”
The gift cards can be used for things like groceries, gas, and car repairs. Troopers will also be directly distributing other essential items—like car seats, cribs, baby formula, and winter coats.
“Providing officers with the resources to help meet some of the more urgent needs of vulnerable Michigan residents can have many positive impacts ranging from increased housing and food security, increased access to treatment for substance use disorder or behavioral health, and diversion from the criminal justice system,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said this week.
State officials gave the program a test run in 2021, providing direct financial assistance to more than 300 Michiganders—including by giving out gift cards for car repairs instead of tickets.
For example, one driver who was stopped for defective headlights received a gift card to repair them, as well as a car seat for their 3-year-old child because they said they couldn’t afford one.
Under a three-year interagency agreement announced this week, the program has since been expanded statewide through at least 2027—at a cost of about $72,000 annually.
In a statement, Grady said the program essentially ends up paying for itself by diverting more Michiganders away from the criminal justice system and potentially disrupting cycles of poverty.
“This innovative program is creating a better and safer environment for the people we serve and provides an excellent opportunity to make residents aware of available assistance resources and connect those who most need them to our services,” Hertel said in a statement this week.
Beyond gift cards and supplies, Michiganders who receive help through the program will also be connected to other opportunities to receive longer-term assistance through the MDHHS.
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