Criminal Justice (Corrections)

SB 337 amends Michigan's penal code to prohibit law enforcement officers from tampering with evidence or intimidating witnesses. It specifically bans altering, destroying, or concealing body-worn camera footage, and prevents officers from retaliating against people who report crimes or from influencing witness statements. Violations can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, with penalties including up to 10 years in prison for serious offenses involving threats or violence. The law directly affects law enforcement officers by imposing new criminal penalties for misconduct related to evidence handling and witness protection.

SB 445 requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to publish aggregate data every 90 days on its website about non-U.S. citizen prisoners. The report must include each prisoner's immigration status, their specific convictions, and their home country (defined as birthplace). This applies only to prisoners under the department's jurisdiction who are not U.S. citizens. The bill mandates this reporting starting six months after it takes effect, focusing on transparency around this specific population's data.

SB 537 requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to collect incarcerated individuals' pre-incarceration addresses (where they lived before prison) and basic demographic data (race, Hispanic/Latino origin, and age over 18) when they enter prison. After each federal census, the department must send this data to the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, along with geographic information about where the person was incarcerated. The commission may use this information when drawing new voting districts, but the data cannot be used for distributing state or federal funds. This bill directly affects incarcerated individuals in Michigan prisons and the redistricting process.

HB 4211 requires correctional facilities to provide reentry support services to certain individuals after they receive a resentencing. It directly affects people whose sentences were reduced or overturned through legal appeals or resentencing proceedings. The bill mandates that these individuals receive assistance with housing, job training, counseling, and other transitional support upon release. This requirement amends Michigan's correctional code to ensure structured reentry planning for eligible individuals.