Criminal Justice

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 25, 2025

SB 445: Corrections: other; report of certain aggregate data for prisoners who are not citizens of the United States; require the department to provide. Amends 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.201 - 791.285) by adding sec. 7b.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates public reporting on non-citizen prisoner data, promoting transparency and accountability in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 4680: Crimes: other; request for identification from an individual wearing a mask or face covering device; allow. Amends sec. 396 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.396).

HB 4680 would make it a misdemeanor to refuse to remove a face covering when law enforcement requests it, if the person was wearing the mask to conceal their identity while threatening others, intimidating a group, or violating a state law or local ordinance. Currently, wearing a mask to hide identity during a crime is already a misdemeanor, but this bill adds officers' authority to stop and ask for removal in those specific situations. Refusing such a request would carry a penalty of up to one year in jail or a $2,500 fine. The bill directly affects individuals wearing face coverings in contexts involving potential threats, group intimidation, or ongoing law violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by making refusal to remove mask during suspected crime a misdemeanor, increasing enforcement authority without reforming justice systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 26, 2025

SB 458: Campaign finance: contributions and expenditures; acceptance of certain contributions by judge or justice; prohibit. Amends 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.201 - 169.282) by adding sec. 30a.

This bill prohibits campaign contributions to judges' committees from parties involved in pending court cases before that judge. It also blocks political committees primarily funded by limited liability companies (LLCs) if the LLC or its officers are involved in pending cases. Committees must disclose LLC funding sources and provide written statements with contributions, with violations carrying misdemeanor penalties. The law directly affects current judges, their committees, and political committees seeking to contribute to judicial campaigns.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents judicial conflicts of interest in pending cases, ensuring fair court operations within criminal justice system by prohibiting biased campaign contributions to judges.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges

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signed · Michigan · House Jul 29, 2026

HB 4396: Juveniles: juvenile justice services; certain information sharing for research purposes in juvenile justice cases; allow. Amends sec. 9 of 1988 PA 13 (MCL 722.829).

HB 4396 amends Michigan's Juvenile Diversion Act to permit researchers to access certain juvenile justice records for research purposes under strict safeguards. It requires researchers to submit requests to the state court administrative office, obtain approval, and sign a data use agreement that protects personally identifiable information from public disclosure. The agreement must prevent misuse and exempt the data from public disclosure under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. This change directly affects researchers studying juvenile justice outcomes, not the minors involved in cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables research access to juvenile justice records under strict safeguards, facilitating evidence-based reforms to improve juvenile justice systems and protect privacy.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates strict data privacy safeguards for juvenile justice research, protecting PII and exempting data from public disclosure under FOIA, directly advancing data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

in committee · Michigan · House Jul 22, 2025

HB 4738: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for killing or causing serious physical harm to a police dog, police horse, or a search and rescue dog; modify. Amends sec. 16b, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16b). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4732'25

HB 4738 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for harming specific working animals used by law enforcement. The bill directly affects individuals who kill or cause serious physical harm to police dogs, police horses, or search and rescue dogs. It would modify existing sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.16b) to establish stricter penalties for these offenses, treating them as more severe crimes. This change would apply to all such incidents occurring in Michigan, with sentencing adjustments to reflect the heightened risk to public safety and law enforcement operations. The bill was introduced on July 15, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for harming law enforcement animals, expanding criminalization under sentencing guidelines per MCL 777.16b.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Sentencing

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passed both · Michigan · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 4018: Juveniles: crimes; transportation of juvenile who commits a crime with an adult; clarify. Amends sec. 16 of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.16).

HB 4018 clarifies when juveniles aged 16-17 can be transported with adults during custody. The bill specifies that juveniles may only be transported with an adult who is 25 or younger if both were taken into custody simultaneously for the same offense or occupied the same vehicle during the offense. It requires juveniles to be separated from adults "at the earliest available time" after arrival. This directly affects law enforcement and juvenile justice systems handling cases involving older juveniles (16-17) and young adults (under 25) who commit offenses together. The amendment updates Michigan's Probate Code to provide clear, specific conditions for this exception to standard juvenile detention rules.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates juvenile-adult separation at earliest time, aligning with reform goals to protect minors and improve juvenile justice procedures per MCL 712A.16.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 13, 2025

HB 4761: Criminal procedure: sentencing; guidelines for sentencing individuals aged 18 to 21 to life without parole; provide for. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1 - 777.69) by adding sec. 25b to ch. IX.

HB 4761 would create new sentencing rules for individuals aged 18-20 convicted of specific violent offenses, including murder, certain drug crimes, and other offenses involving death. Prosecutors must file a motion requesting life without parole within 42 days of conviction (or 360 days after the bill's effective date for existing cases), or the court must impose a minimum 25-year sentence. The bill requires courts to consider factors from the *Miller v. Alabama* Supreme Court ruling during sentencing hearings, including the defendant's age and background. If life without parole isn't granted, defendants must serve at least 25 years (with a maximum of 60 years) and consecutive sentences for multiple related offenses. This bill directly affects young adult defendants, prosecutors, and courts handling these cases under Michigan's criminal procedure code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents mandatory life without parole for 18-20yr-olds by requiring prosecutorial motion and considering *Miller* factors, aligning with juvenile justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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passed both · Michigan · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 4353: Water supply: systems; authority as municipal authority; modify. Amends sec. 1 of 2006 PA 563 (MCL 15.391). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4352'25

This bill's title incorrectly references water supply, but the actual text amends Michigan's law restricting disclosure of law enforcement statements (2006 PA 563). It defines "involuntary statement" as information compelled by a law enforcement agency through threats of job loss or sanctions. The bill would protect such compelled statements from disclosure, applying to officers employed by state police, county agencies, cities, universities, and other specified entities. This directly affects law enforcement officers and agencies by limiting how their compelled statements can be used in legal proceedings.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProtects compelled law enforcement statements from disclosure, weakening oversight and accountability per 2006 PA 563 amendment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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signed · Michigan · House Aug 26, 2025

HB 4048: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; guidelines for dissemination of deep fake sexual images; enact. Amends sec. 17b, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.17b). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4047'25

HB 4048 adds a new sentencing guideline for distributing intimate deepfake sexual images with aggravating circumstances, classifying it as a Class F felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison. This directly affects individuals convicted of disseminating such deepfakes, particularly those with prior offenses under Michigan law. The bill amends sentencing guidelines in Chapter XVII of the Michigan Penal Code to specifically address this crime, establishing a clear penalty framework for courts to apply. It became effective immediately upon the Governor's approval on August 26, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds new felony charge for deepfake distribution, expanding criminalization rather than reforming justice systems or protecting rights.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAddresses non-consensual deepfake distribution as felony, strengthening privacy protections under technology-related crimes per bill's sentencing guidelines and subjects.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Michigan · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 4525: Criminal procedure: other; electronic monitoring by global positioning devices of certain individuals released without bail; require. Amends sec. 6b, ch. V of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 765.6b).

HB 4525 requires judges to consider ordering GPS tracking devices for defendants charged with aggravated domestic violence or assaultive crimes who are released without bail. It directly affects these defendants and their victims, as the bill mandates judges to evaluate whether electronic monitoring would deter further harm before trial. Key provisions include requiring courts to document specific conditions, enter orders into law enforcement databases, and give victims the option to receive proximity alerts if the defendant approaches them. The bill also specifies that defendants must cover device costs or perform community service as a condition of release.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for domestic violence/assault defendants to protect victims and deter reoffending, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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