Judge's creative punishment for shoplifters nixed by chief judge

In Michigan, a proposed community service plan from Judge Jeffrey Clothier aimed at punishing shoplifters was overruled by Chief Judge William Crawford II. Clothier, who recently took the bench at the 67th District Court in Genesee County, had suggested that individuals caught stealing from Walmart should wash cars for free in the community. This initiative was intended to serve the community and possibly deter future thefts from the retail giant. Clothier stated he had the support of local store managers, and he envisioned engaging 75 to 100 offenders when spring arrived. However, Walmart's corporate officials rejected the idea of holding car washes on their property. Undeterred, Clothier considered other locations for the service but faced institutional opposition from Crawford, who stressed the necessity of following standard procedures for alternative sentencing. He indicated the proposed punishment deviated from conventional methods, highlighting the importance of adhering to accepted legal practices. Clothier expressed frustration over the rejection of his proposal, particularly given the rising theft offenses in his jurisdiction. He reported that just two days prior to the ruling, there had been 37 new theft offenses, with over 100 recorded in the preceding month. In light of Crawford's decision, Clothier announced that he would have to pivot to other forms of community service for those offenders instead of car washing. Despite the setback, Clothier remained committed to exploring innovative solutions to combat shoplifting, mentioning support from 20 to 30 fellow judges across Michigan who expressed willingness to collaborate with him. The circumstances underscore a tension between creative judicial approaches to crime prevention and the adherence to established legal norms.