Readout of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Visit to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan

On Friday, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan as well as federal and local law enforcement partners.

In Detroit, Attorney General Garland met with U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison, along with attorneys and the staff at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.   Attorney General Garland was briefed on a community partnership named “One Detroit” designed to reduce violent crime in the City through a multi-faceted program of crime prevention, services for the re-entry of returning citizens, and focused law enforcement.

One Detroit is the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s comprehensive violence reduction initiative that links evidenced-based strategies with a coalition of stakeholders in the community, government, and law enforcement. The core of the initiative is partnership. By bringing together leaders in government, the community, and law enforcement, and aligning their work, the One Detroit partnership will work to reduce violence through engagement, coordination, and action.

One Detroit includes aggressive investigation and prosecution of the relatively small number of individuals responsible for the most violence. But the One Detroit partners recognize that violence must be prevented and not just punished. And so, the One Detroit partners will also develop and foster meaningful community relationships, promote prevention and intervention programs, and emphasize prisoner reentry programs that involve the community.

Attorney General Garland praised the One Detroit community partnership as critical to addressing violent crime in Detroit.  He shared his support for the work that U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison and the Office’s attorneys and staff are doing to combat violent crime through prevention, intervention and fostering community relationships.

After the briefing, Attorney General Garland met with federal law enforcement officials in Detroit and spoke about the importance of tackling the problem of fentanyl in both the U.S. and Mexico.    Attorney General Garland also met with local law enforcement and commended the strong working relationship between local, state, and federal law enforcement. His visit to Detroit concluded with an address to the staff of the U.S. Attorney’s office.