Criminal Justice

in committee · Michigan · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SB 90: Corrections: parole; consideration of parole for certain individuals sentenced before 1980; require. Amends secs. 31a, 33, 33b & 34 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.231a et seq.) & adds secs. 35a & 83a. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0089'25

SB 90 amends Michigan's Corrections Code to require parole consideration for individuals sentenced before 1980 for certain crimes. It specifically creates a new process (via added sections 35a and 83a) to allow parole boards to review cases of people incarcerated for offenses listed in Section 33b (like certain violent crimes) who were sentenced prior to 1980. The bill changes existing rules by mandating that parole boards must consider these individuals for parole, rather than automatically denying it based on their sentence date. This directly affects thousands of incarcerated people in Michigan who were convicted and sentenced before 1980 for qualifying offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates parole consideration for pre-1980 offenders, advancing criminal justice reform by reviewing long-incarcerated cases under revised parole process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 10, 2025

SB 389: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for driver causing death of blind person or dog guide in crosswalk; enact. Amends sec. 17b, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.17b). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0388'25

SB 389 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for drivers who cause the death of a blind person or a guide dog while they are crossing a street in a crosswalk. The bill directly affects drivers involved in such fatal accidents by adding these specific scenarios to the state's sentencing considerations under MCL 777.17b. Key provisions require judges to impose harsher sentences for these offenses, acknowledging the vulnerability of blind individuals and service animals. The law aims to strengthen legal consequences for negligence in crosswalks where blind people or guide dogs are present. This is a substantive policy change focused on enhancing penalties for specific traffic-related fatalities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases sentencing for drivers harming blind persons/guide dogs, protecting vulnerable groups under criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Apr 15, 2025

SB 203: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for summoning law enforcement to residence through intentional false report of a serious law enforcement emergency; establish. Amends sec. 16t, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16t). TIE BAR WITH: SB 202'25

SB 203 creates new sentencing guidelines for individuals who intentionally make false reports to law enforcement about serious emergencies (like active threats or crimes) to summon police to a residence. It directly affects people who deliberately lie to trigger emergency responses, such as false reports of violence or danger at someone's home. The bill amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.16t) to specify enhanced penalties for this specific offense. This adds a clear legal consequence for misusing emergency services, aiming to deter false reports that waste police resources and cause unnecessary fear.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for false emergency reports, strengthening punishment for a crime that wastes law enforcement resources and disrupts community safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Sentencing

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in committee · Michigan · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 338: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for certain tampering with evidence offenses by law enforcement officers; provide for. Amends sec. 16x, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16x). TIE BAR WITH: SB 337'25

SB 338 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.16x) to specifically address law enforcement officers who tamper with evidence. It establishes separate sentencing parameters for officers convicted of altering, destroying, or fabricating evidence during investigations. This bill directly affects law enforcement officers in cases involving evidence tampering, ensuring their sentences are evaluated under these updated guidelines rather than general provisions. The change aims to clarify sentencing outcomes for this specific offense within the criminal justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes specific sentencing for officer evidence tampering, enhancing police accountability per bill's intent to clarify penalties for misconduct.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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passed both · Michigan · House Sep 18, 2025

HB 4664: Civil rights: speech and assembly; blocking a state highway while participating in an assembly of individuals; prohibit, and provide for a misdemeanor. Amends sec. 676b of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.676b).

HB 4664 prohibits blocking state highways during assemblies of individuals, amending Michigan's existing traffic law (MCL 257.676b). It directly affects protesters or assembly participants who obstruct highway traffic, making such obstruction a misdemeanor offense. The key provision adds a specific penalty for blocking highways while engaging in group assemblies, moving beyond general traffic violations. This law clarifies that highway obstruction during protests is a criminal act, not merely a traffic infraction.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits highway obstruction during protests, criminalizing assembly activities - expands criminalization of civil rights, opposing reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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passed both · Michigan · House Sep 18, 2025

HB 4714: Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for fraudulent insurance acts; provide for. Amends sec. 15a, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.15a). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4716'25

HB 4714 updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines specifically for fraudulent insurance acts by amending Section 15a of the Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 777.15a). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of insurance fraud by establishing clearer sentencing standards for these offenses. It modifies existing sentencing structures to provide more defined parameters for judges when determining penalties in fraud cases involving insurance. The changes aim to standardize penalties for this specific crime category within Michigan's criminal justice system. The bill passed the Michigan House on September 16, 2025, with strong support.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends sentencing guidelines for insurance fraud to standardize penalties, reducing sentencing disparities and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5010: Criminal procedure: defenses; affirmative defense that individual committed a crime because the individual was a victim of human trafficking; establish. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1 - 777.69) by adding sec. 21e to ch. VIII.

This bill creates a legal defense for individuals charged with crimes who were victims of human trafficking. It allows defendants to argue that their criminal act was a direct result of being trafficked, applying to both felony and misdemeanor charges under Michigan law. To use this defense, the defendant must prove it by a "preponderance of evidence" (more likely than not). The bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to include this provision, directly affecting trafficking victims facing criminal charges for acts committed under coercion.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates defense for trafficking victims, reducing criminal liability for acts committed under duress, aligning with reform goals to protect victims and address root causes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5028: Crimes: prostitution; penalties for and references to prostitute and prostitution crimes in sentencing guidelines; amend. Amends sec. 16w, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16w). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5016'25

HB 5028 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to update legal references related to prostitution offenses. It replaces terms like "prostitute" with more neutral language in sentencing calculations under MCL 777.16w. This change affects judges and courts when determining penalties for individuals convicted of prostitution-related crimes. The bill modifies how these offenses are described in legal guidelines but does not alter the actual penalties for the crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates sentencing guidelines to remove stigmatizing terms, promoting neutral language. Aligns with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform without altering penalties.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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passed · Michigan · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 592: Corrections: other; reentry services and support for certain individuals after resentencing; require. Amends sec. 83 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.283).

SB 592 requires Michigan's corrections department to provide reentry services (excluding housing), temporary housing, and vital documents (like birth certificates) to prisoners whose convictions were overturned due to specific Supreme Court rulings (e.g., *Miller v. Alabama* or *People v. Parks*). These services must be offered for up to 2 years after release for reentry services and 1 year for housing. The bill mandates timely assignment of staff to ensure these supports are delivered, with repayment required if a prisoner's conviction is later reinstated. It directly affects individuals released after resentencing in cases involving juvenile sentencing laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates reentry services (documents, housing) for prisoners with overturned convictions per reform-focused Supreme Court cases, reducing recidivism barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

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passed both · Michigan · House Sep 29, 2025

HB 4596: Criminal procedure: other; dismissal of charges against a defendant determined incompetent to stand trial; revise. Amends secs. 1034 & 1044 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.2034 & 330.2044).

HB 4596 clarifies the timeline for dismissing criminal charges against defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial in Michigan. It requires charges to be dismissed 15 months after the defendant was initially found incompetent or after they began treatment to become competent - whichever comes first. Prosecutors may refile charges for life felony offenses if the defendant later becomes competent, but only after a court hearing confirming competency. The bill also adds requirements for courts to notify attorneys and medical supervisors when dismissal orders expire or are voided.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets 15-month dismissal timeline for incompetent defendants, prevents indefinite detention, requires competency hearing before re-filing for life felonies - protects defendant rights and due process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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