Criminal Justice (Violent Crime) in Michigan

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 1016: State agencies (proposed): other; grants for community violence intervention services; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: SB 1015'26

This bill establishes a new grant program and fund to support community violence intervention and prevention efforts in Michigan. It directs state funding to eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations that meet specific criteria, such as having high homicide rates or a demonstrated need to address violence. The grants must be used for evidence-based strategies that utilize trauma-informed care, expand economic opportunities, and avoid contributing to mass incarceration. Furthermore, the legislation requires that at least 75% of any grant given to a local government be passed on to community-based or nonprofit groups, ensuring that law enforcement agencies do not receive these specific funds. The bill also mandates regular reporting on financial use and program outcomes to ensure accountability.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 5685: Crimes: penalties; threats or assault against employee of family independence agency; expand. Amends sec. 81c of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.81c).

This bill strengthens penalties for threatening, intimidating, or harassing employees of Michigan's Family Independence Agency, which includes staff from the Department of Health and Human Services and contracted private agencies. It expands criminal liability to cover verbal threats, intimidation, and harassment specifically targeting these workers due to their employment status. The legislation establishes misdemeanor charges for threats, intimidation, or harassment punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, while physical assaults causing injury become felonies with potential sentences of up to two years or a $1,000 fine. More severe assaults resulting in serious impairment of body functions carry felony penalties of up to five years in prison and fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The bill also clarifies definitions for harassment and intimidation while ensuring that convictions under this law do not prevent prosecution under other applicable laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

in committee · Michigan · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 844: Crimes: assaultive; harassing, interfering with, or injuring a letter carrier; prohibit, and provide penalties. Amends sec. 81d of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.81d).

This bill strengthens penalties for assaulting or interfering with letter carriers by adding them to the list of protected workers under Michigan's existing assault laws. It makes it a felony to harm, obstruct, or endanger anyone performing their duties, including postal workers, with increased prison terms and fines depending on the severity of the injury. The law applies to any individual who knows or should know the person is working, and penalties range from up to two years in prison for minor offenses to up to 20 years if the victim dies. The bill does not prevent additional charges for other crimes committed during the same incident and allows prison sentences to be served consecutively to other related convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 5587: State agencies (proposed): other; grants for community violence intervention services; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5586'26

HB 5587 creates a state grant program to fund community-based violence prevention initiatives in areas with high homicide rates. It establishes a "community violence intervention and prevention fund" to award grants to eligible local governments (e.g., cities or counties with 35+ homicides in 2 of 3 years) or community nonprofits with proven experience addressing violence. Grants must support evidence-based strategies focused on trauma care, economic opportunities, and reducing violence without increasing incarceration, with at least 75% of funds directed to community organizations - not law enforcement. The program requires grantees to report on outcomes and coordinate with other violence prevention efforts, and mandates annual reports on best practices from the administering office.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 5483: Crimes: assaultive; harassing, interfering with, or injuring a letter carrier; prohibit, and provide penalties. Amends sec. 81d of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.81d).

HB 5483 amends Michigan's penal code to specifically protect United States Postal Service letter carriers by adding them to the list of protected individuals under assault laws. The bill increases penalties for assaulting, obstructing, or endangering these workers based on injury severity: up to 2 years for basic assault, 4 years for serious injury requiring medical care, 15 years for serious bodily impairment, and 20 years if the assault causes death. It clarifies that existing penalties for assaulting law enforcement or emergency personnel also apply to letter carriers when they are performing their duties. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment and does not affect other potential charges for the same incident.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Dec 31, 2025

HB 5447: Criminal procedure: probation; achievement credits for individuals on probation; provide for. Amends sec. 2, ch. XI of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 771.2).

HB 5447 modifies Michigan's probation rules to allow eligible individuals to seek early termination from probation. It permits probationers to apply for early discharge after completing half their original probation term (for both felonies and misdemeanors), provided they've completed required programming and made good-faith efforts to pay fines/fees. The bill prohibits disqualification solely due to unpaid financial obligations but excludes certain offenses like domestic violence (MCL 750.81/81a), sexual assault, or drug crimes from early discharge eligibility. Courts must consider victim input in cases involving specific offenses and report annual early discharge data to legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 5121: Civil procedure: service of process; cost for service of process for personal protection orders; eliminate. Amends sec. 2950a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.2950a) & adds secs. 2950d & 2950p. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5120'25, HB 6033'26

HB 5121 eliminates the cost for serving personal protection orders (PPOs) in Michigan. It directly affects individuals seeking PPOs to protect against harassment, stalking, or sexual assault by removing the requirement that petitioners pay for service of the order on the respondent. The bill amends Michigan’s court procedures to eliminate this fee, making it easier for petitioners - especially those with limited resources - to obtain and enforce PPOs without upfront costs. This change applies to all PPOs filed under the specified sections of Michigan law, streamlining the process for victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 4232: State management: funds; public safety and violence prevention fund; create. Amends title & sec. 2 of 2000 PA 489 (MCL 12.252) & adds secs. 11a & 11b. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4231'25

HB 4232 creates the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund within Michigan’s trust fund system, directly affecting cities, villages, and townships that receive funding. The fund is financed by general sales tax deposits, donations, and investment earnings, with money remaining in the fund year-to-year instead of lapsing. Key provisions require 6.5% of fund revenues to be distributed to cities/towns for community violence prevention grants (administered by DHHS), while 2% goes to the Crime Victim’s Rights Fund; remaining funds are distributed proportionally but reduced if jurisdictions fail to meet violent crime rate reduction targets (1% by 2028-2030, 2% after). The bill strictly prohibits using funds for tactical police vehicles (>15,000 lbs), facial recognition technology, or replacing existing public safety resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing Victims' Rights Violent Crime

in committee · Michigan · House Jun 4, 2025

HB 4532: Crimes: assaultive; crime of assaulting a person performing job-related duties; expand to include health professionals. Amends secs. 81, 81a & 81d of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.81 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4534'25, HB 4535'25

HB 4532 expands Michigan's assault laws to specifically protect health professionals and medical volunteers who are assaulted while performing job duties. The bill increases fines for such assaults from $500 to $1,000 (for non-patient offenders) and requires health facilities to post clear notices about this penalty. It excludes patients receiving treatment from the enhanced fine but still allows prosecution for patient assaults. This directly affects doctors, nurses, and volunteers working in healthcare settings during their professional duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

passed both · Michigan · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 4261: State management: funds; public safety and violence prevention fund; create. Amends title & sec. 2 of 2000 PA 489 (MCL 12.252) & adds secs. 11a & 11b. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4260'25

HB 4261 creates the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund within Michigan's trust fund system. It establishes the fund using money from the general sales tax (Section 25 of 1933 PA 167), donations, and investment earnings, with funds permanently staying in the account instead of lapsing to the general fund. Starting September 30, 2026, the state treasurer will distribute the fund’s revenues: 2% to health services for community violence intervention grants, 2% to crime victim funds, and the remainder based on each city/village/township’s violent crime rate (with a 5% reduction for areas not meeting crime reduction targets). This directly affects local governments receiving funds, the Department of Health and Human Services (administering grants), and crime victim programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime

All criminal justice bills