The Prosecuting Attorney’s office is responsible for a wide array of legal functions for Clare County, some of which include: reviews, authorizes and prosecutes violations of felony and misdemeanor criminal laws of the State of Michigan (and County ordinances) committed inside the County. The primary law enforcement agencies include the Clare ...
Mar 09, 2022 · The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM) is a voluntary association of the 83 county prosecutors, the Attorney …
Aug 06, 2020 · In Michigan’s Washtenaw County, situated between Jackson and Detroit, progressive candidate Eli Savit won the primary for district attorney with more than 50 percent of the vote in the three-way ...
This is generally the first time that the Prosecuting Attorney's office is involved in a case, unless a prosecutor reviewed a search warrant or visited the crime scene. At this stage, the Prosecutor determines whether a person should be charged with a crime and, if so, what the crime should be.
April DeBoer, left, wipes away tears before Judge Karen McDonald, right, and DeBoer's spouse Jayne Rowse, center, after an adoption ceremony at the Oakland County Circuit Court on November 5, 2015, in Pontiac, Michigan. Photo: Carlos Osorio/AP
State law required her to leave the bench a year before the filing deadline, so in April 2019, she stepped down. “Candidly, the thing that changed for me was when Donald Trump was elected,” she said. “We’re in a moment where if we don’t start taking risks, we’re going to keep electing people like Donald Trump.
Sentencing in Michigan varies with the crime and can be the most confusing part of the criminal process. Most often, sentences are at the judge's discretion . The judge will consider the information in the pre-sentence report (subject to factual corrections by the parties), additional evidence offered by the parties, comments by the crime victim, and other information relevant to the judge's sentencing decision. For felonies, the Circuit Court judge will consult "sentencing guidelines." The sentencing guidelines factor in aspects of the defendant's criminal conduct and his or her prior criminal record to determine the minimum jail/prison sentence. The judge may consider different alternatives, such as a fine, probation, community service, a sentence to jail or prison, or a combination. The judge must also order the defendant to make restitution to any victims who have suffered financial harm.
Appeals from the District Court are heard in the Circuit Court. Appeals from a Circuit Court or Probate Court order are heard in the Michigan Court of Appeals. Appeals from Court of Appeals decisions are heard in the Michigan Supreme Court. There are three kinds of appeals: (1) interlocutory, (2) of right, and (3) by leave.
Most cases begin with a warrant request . This is generally the first time that the Prosecuting Attorney's office is involved in a case, unless a prosecutor reviewed a search warrant or visited the crime scene. At this stage, the Prosecutor determines whether a person should be charged with a crime and, if so, what the crime should be.
When the investigating officer has probable cause to believe that one or more misdemeanors or felonies were committed – or if a crime is committed in a police officer's presence - the officer may arrest a suspect on the spot without an arrest warrant. The officer will later submit a charging/warrant request to the Prosecuting Attorney, suggesting potential charges to be authorized.
At this stage, the Prosecutor determines whether a person should be charged with a crime and, if so, what the crime should be. The Prosecutor must thoroughly review all reports and records concerning the case, including witness statements. The Prosecutor also reviews the suspect's prior criminal or traffic record.
Defense counsel may give a similar opening statement, or wait until later in the trial; the Prosecutor calls witnesses, which the defense may cross-examine; the People close their proofs; the defense may call witnesses, if it wants, and the Prosecutor may cross-examine them;
District Court Arraignment. This is the first court appearance for any misdemeanor or felony. The defendant is told what the charge (s) is (are) and the maximum penalty if convicted, and is advised of his or her Constitutional rights (to a jury or bench trial, an appointed attorney, the presumption of innocence, etc.)