Q&A with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy: Insights on Cash Bail, Police Assaults, and Rape Kits

Detroit – Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy recently sat down to discuss the new Criminal Justice Center, high-profile cases, and changes in Michigan law with regard to sentencing, bail, and gun safety. Here are some highlights from the conversation.

What’s happening in the Prosecutor’s Office?

Q: Why don’t you tell us a little about what’s going on in your office?
A: We have so much going on. We have a new Criminal Justice Center that will bring all stakeholders in the criminal world together — from the sheriff’s office to our offices, and even the jail. Everything is state-of-the-art in terms of digital capabilities, which will make it easier for us to actively assess situations. Plus, one of the biggest things for us is that parking will be free for our staff, jurors, and everyone involved. We’re also looking at having food trucks for jurors, which is a big improvement.

Staffing and Training

Q: Are you up to staff?
A: We are. We’ve hired new lawyers straight out of law school, and they can start working on their student loans once they pass the bar. This has been really effective.

Q: Do most of them pass the bar?
A: It’s hard to say because we have a new exam called the UBE (Universal Bar Exam) with a lower passage rate statewide, around 37%.

Sentencing, Probation, and Bail

Q: There have been a lot of changes in Michigan laws regarding these areas. Have they worked?
A: We still face issues with bonds set by some judges and magistrates. For certain offenses, I believe there should be no cash bail, especially for misdemeanors, except for offenses like drunk driving, stalking, and domestic violence. For higher-level felonies, it depends. For violent crimes like first-degree murder, I don’t believe there should be any bond.

Violent Crimes and Repeat Offenders

Q: What about cases like the Canton Township man who was killed? Shouldn’t the suspect have been behind bars?
A: When we get a case, we make the best decision based on the information we have at the time. Recently, there have been a lot of concerns raised about such issues.

Trends in Criminal Behavior

Q: Have you seen any new trends?
A: The pandemic appeared to shift behaviors significantly. We’ve seen a spike in dangerous driving practices like drag racing and higher levels of violent crimes. The stress and desperation during and after the pandemic influenced these trends.

Gun Safety and the Rape Kits Initiative

Q: Are you seeing positive impacts from new gun safety laws?
A: Yes. Since 2005, we’ve been pushing for safe storage of guns, especially in homes with children. Now, these laws are making a difference.

Q: And what about the rape kits?
A: We’re very excited about our progress. All the rape kits have been tested, leading to 844 identified serial rapists and 257 convictions.

AI in the Prosecutor’s Office

Q: What role do you see AI playing in your office?
A: We’re preparing ourselves for its use, particularly in dealing with cases involving altered images and other emerging crimes. It’s a tool we need to understand better.

Impact of Body Cameras

Q: How have body cameras impacted your resources?
A: We’ve managed to get funding for a specialized unit to handle the body camera footage. This has been highly beneficial in maintaining transparency and accountability.

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