Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton of Washtenaw County Michigan

2/05/2018

Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton

c/o Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office

2201 Hogback Road

Ann Arbor, MI  48105

Dear Sheriff Clayton,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history, public policy, and the criminal justice system.  In these subjects,  I like to learn the need to advance on Civil Rights to help protect people who are different from being discriminated,  have checks with balances in the criminal justice system to help protect people’s civil liberties while reduce crime, and many others. Sheriff Clayton, the main reason I’m writing you a letter is because I find your work as Sheriff of Washtenaw County, Michigan to be very inspiring to me.

In your current role as Sheriff of Washtenaw County Michigan, I am very proud on how you are a strong supporter of protecting women, minorities, people with disabilities, and people with different sexual orientation from being discriminated. Also on Civil Rights, I like on how you advocate for people with disabilities’ rights, work with minorities communities along with law enforcement to find ways to reduce racial profiling, and expand on law enforcement resources to help combat against hate-crime to help protect people who are different from being targeted. Expanding treatment programs to help drug-users or victims of domestic violence get the care they need, pushing for community service to help non-violent offenders including juveniles get rehabilitated so they won’t re-offend, and supporting funds for forensic science including DNA testing to help solve crimes efficiently or reduce sending an innocent person to jail are great ways to reform the criminal justice system.  On public safety, I like on how you expanded jails to help keep violent offenders off the street, provided more funds for training to help law enforcement including sheriff be prepared to handle emergencies, and have community outreach programs with educational awareness for the community to help address to the community about the need to reduce drugs along with gun violence and need to reduce bullying.

Sheriff Clayton,  I have Autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased.  Your commitment to support Civil Rights, reduce racial profiling, and advocate for people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on my disability.  Also your role as Sheriff of Washtenaw County motivated me to take a class called Intro to Criminal Justice at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan back in 2014. In the class I enjoyed learning about how the court system works, Miranda rights, procedures of law enforcement, and different ideas to reform the criminal justice system. I enjoyed learning about the criminal justice system.  Another thing is your commitment to make our community safe and your role as Sheriff of Washtenaw County, Michigan motivates me to continue my interest in learning history with public policy.  My future goal is to someday work in history or public policy to help create common sense ideas to make society better. 

I strongly believe that  you are doing such a great job making society including the criminal justice system a better place. Sheriff Clayton, I’m very  proud on how you are working hard to make a difference.  You have inspired me to work hard on my disability, be motivated to take a criminal justice class, and continue my interest in learning history with public policy.  Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, doing an excellent job making a great difference, and inspiring me. My letter is a gift to you for inspiring me and for Black History Month to help recognize African Americans who work hard to make a great difference for society.  I wish you well to continue your role as Sheriff of Washtenaw County, Michigan and to make society a better place.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick

He sent me a pin and a nice card!