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John R. Chamberlin

Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

John R. Chamberlin is a professor emeritus of political science and public policy. His research interests include ethics and public policy, professional ethics, and methods of election and representation. He taught the core course "Values, Ethics,…

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local government leaders report significant increases in police surveillance technology, uncertainty about AI introduction

Apr 23, 2025

A new MPPS report presents the assessments of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, and county sheriffs on the use and value of a range of law enforcement equipment and technology such as body and dashboard cameras, drones,...

CLOSUP Updates

Eviction in the U.P. Deserves a Closer Look

Apr 9, 2025 Iron County Reporter

MARQUETTE — As of March 2023, The Eviction Lab reports that Michigan’s eviction filing rate jumped from historic pandemic-era lows to become the fifth worst in the nation, at 16.7%.Read...

CLOSUP Updates

Amplifying local voices: Michigan Public Policy Survey shares insights, experiences of Michigan’s township officials

Mar 21, 2025 Township Focus

For more than 15 years, a statewide survey of local government officials has helped to garner the opinions, experiences and insights of thousands of public leaders. These efforts, in which MTA is a partner, glean important information to help inform...

CLOSUP Updates

Law enforcement leaders want specialized response programs, new survey says

Feb 27, 2025 Michigan Public

About eight out of every 10 Michigan county sheriffs and local police chiefs support having some type of specialized emergency response that would include professionals in fields like mental health and social work for some 911 calls, according to...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local leaders’ views on policing co-response and alternative response teams

Feb 26, 2025

A new MPPS report presents presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, and county sheriffs on alternative approaches to traditional policing that might involve other professionals, such as mental health...

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CLOSUP Updates

Report: Public Safety Survey Shows Half Of MI Law Enforcement Agencies Feel They Are Underfunded

Feb 7, 2025 Gongwer

A new report from the University of Michigan's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy shows that 59 percent of county sheriffs and 45 percent of local police chiefs feel they are not provided appropriate or sufficient funding.The report released...

CLOSUP Updates

CLOSUP: Michigan law enforcement agencies discuss financial issues

Feb 6, 2025 Cadillac News

These days, many people are feeling financially strained, and a recent University of Michigan report suggests that municipal officials and law enforcement agencies are experiencing similar challenges.While some might say, “Thanks, Captain Obvious,”...

CLOSUP Updates

Survey asks police chiefs, sheriffs about funding levels

Feb 2, 2025 Moody on the Market

A new survey has found many law enforcement officials around the state view their funding levels as inadequate.The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan says its latest Michigan Public Policy Survey sought the input...

CLOSUP Updates

Statewide survey finds many law enforcement officials believes they’re underfunded

Jan 31, 2025 WSJM News

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Half of Michigan local law enforcement agencies say they are underfunded, while most local governments are satisfied with their appropriations

Jan 23, 2025

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, county sheriffs, and county prosecutors regarding funding for law enforcement agencies, including assessments of whether sheriff’s offices and...

CLOSUP Updates

Nearly half of Michigan law enforcement officials concerned about funding, according to U-M survey

Jan 23, 2025 Publicnow.com

Survey: Half of Michigan local law enforcement agencies say they are underfunded, while most local governments are satisfied with their appropriationsAmong Michigan law enforcement agency leaders, concerns about funding levels are widespread, with...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Pretrial diversion programs work, according to Michigan local law enforcement

Nov 20, 2024

A new MPPS policy brief presents the views of Michigan’s local chiefs of police, county sheriffs, and county prosecutors from around the state on the impacts of pretrial diversion programs and whether they would support diversion programs in their...

CLOSUP Updates

Law enforcement leaders view pretrial diversion programs as a source for positive change

Nov 20, 2024 My Science

A majority of Michigan sheriffs, police chiefs and county prosecutors support programs that allow certain offenders to participate in alternative paths to standard criminal prosecution, according to a new University of Michigan study.The broad...

In the Media

A guide to Washtenaw County proposals

Nov 4, 2024 Read more

This election cycle, Washtenaw County voters will decide whether to approve ballot proposals regarding tax funding of emergency communications systems, veterans relief, senior services and mental health services.The Michigan Daily interviewed...

In the Media

Worried issuers weigh in on FDTA

Oct 23, 2024 Read more

Municipal market participants this week laid out their doubts about a data standards law in a blizzard of comments to the Securities and Exchange Commission.A similar refrain came from issuers big and small: the Financial Data Transparency Act of...

MPPS in the news

Challenges in Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention in Michigan

Sep 19, 2024 Forward Pathway

Local leaders in Michigan are increasingly alarmed about the challenges of hiring and retaining law enforcement officers, as highlighted in the latest Michigan Public Policy Survey conducted by the University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State,...

MPPS in the news

Local leaders in Michigan sound alarms over hiring, keeping law enforcement officers

Sep 17, 2024 Michigan News

Concerns about hiring and keeping law enforcement officers have skyrocketed among local government officials in Michigan in the past decade.Local law enforcement officials themselves are even more pessimistic about recruitment and retention within...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local governments report increased challenges with law enforcement recruitment and retention

Sep 17, 2024

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders, county sheriffs, local chiefs of police, and county prosecutors regarding recruitment and retention of law enforcement personnel, including police officers, sheriffs’...

MPPS in the news

Tough job, fewer applicants: Michigan struggles to hire police, survey finds

Sep 17, 2024 Bridge Michigan

Police agencies throughout Michigan are struggling to hire qualified officers, a new study finds, exacerbating an officer shortage that has hit forces nationwide.A University of Michigan study released Tuesday found that 72% report difficult hiring...

MPPS in the news

Biden Wants to Send Billions to Rural America, but This Must Happen First

May 26, 2024 The New York Times

President Biden regularly emphasizes how the major pieces of legislation he has signed — the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act — expand opportunities for Americans. This is especially...

MPPS in the news

Rural Prosperity Summit 2024 Recap

May 23, 2024 MI Office of Rural Prosperity

Over 275 attendees representing 91 rural Michigan communities attended the first-ever Michigan Rural Prosperity Summit on May 20, 2024. The Summit, hosted by the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity, featured 19 speakers and panelists over 10...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local government officials’ views on expanding energy infrastructure in their jurisdictions

May 22, 2024

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders on the amount of energy infrastructure currently hosted in their jurisdiction, as well as their support for or opposition to building new energy infrastructure locally....

Transmission lines, turbines and solar panels

In the Media

Early Public Comment Roundup Gives ICRC A Glimpse At Road Ahead

May 20, 2024 Gongwer

Members of the public have been providing public comments since the inception of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Track, but on Monday, commissioners got a peek at what those commenters were saying about the maps created between...

MPPS in the news

Local Government Officials’ Assessments of Community Poverty in the Upper Peninsula

May 15, 2024 Rural Insights

Local government leaders in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) are more likely to report significant unmet needs among their residents for anti-poverty resources compared with local leaders in the Lower Peninsula. U.P. leaders are also more likely to...

MPPS in the news

More local officials see relevance of electric vehicle planning

Apr 30, 2024 The University Record

Local officials across Michigan increasingly view electric vehicle infrastructure planning as relevant for their governments, though many cite too few public charging stations and costs associated with adding them as barriers to...

MPPS in the news

Birmingham pilots survey on recycling

Apr 24, 2024 Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

The city of Birmingham recently launched a new survey on Engage Birmingham that encourages residents to share their understanding of the city’s recycling program, their interest in recycling and how they think Birmingham can improve in this area....

In the Media

Report: Locals Fiscally Sound During COVID, Long-Term Unclear

Apr 12, 2024 Gongwer

Local governments generally found themselves fiscally sound during the coronavirus pandemic due to one-time infusions of federal aid, but long-term fiscal health is more varied and could be tough to navigate due to constraints on fiscal policy, a...

MPPS in the news

Short Term Aid Doesn't Cure Fiscal Stress, Local Leaders Say in U-M Study

Feb 12, 2024 Gongwer

A recent survey of local leaders around the state found that short-term injections of "major financial aid" don't make a great difference in addressing municipal fiscal...

MPPS in the news

Michigan Recycling Trends Upward, More Efforts Needed to Offset Waste Disposal

Jan 28, 2024 Drawing Detroit

With a re-ignited commitment to sustainability, the State of Michigan has experienced an increase in the amount of materials being recycled. According to a 2023 report (2023 Michigan Recycling: State of the State) by the Michigan Department of...