The Michigan Department of Attorney General utilizes the services of Special Assistant Attorneys General from time to time when the unique circumstances of a particular case create the need for specialized services not currently available within the department.
The Michigan Attorney General has determined that a full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what, and when.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (the “CIU”) investigates claims of innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense.
In Michigan, a victim is an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.
The laws regarding expungement of criminal offenses in Michigan changed in major ways in April of 2021. This page is designed to help applicants navigate their way through the new laws, help them determine if they are eligible to have convictions expunged, to answer frequently asked questions about the new laws, and to provide links for resources and assistance.
To investigate and prosecute hate crimes by following up on every credible tip and offer departmental resources to assist local and federal law enforcement partners in this effort.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan. Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Knowing how to guard your personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft.
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, provides that requesters can receive copies or make inspections of most public records of public bodies upon written request.
The Open Meetings Act (OMA) took effect January 1, 1977. In enacting the OMA, the Legislature promoted a new era in governmental accountability and fostered openness in government to enhance responsible decision making.1 Nothing in the OMA prohibits a public body from adopting an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that requires a greater degree of openness relative to public body meetings than the standards provided for in the OMA. 2
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Attorney General Dana Nessel has long supported restorative justice in schools. She believes we need to change the ways we discipline students. Restorative justice aims to fix the harm done to victims and the school community. This method is different from assigning like suspension or expulsion.
In 2021, Nessel started the Department’s Restorative Practices Initiative. The initiative shows her commitment to fairness in schools. She worked on the initiative with the National Education Association and the Michigan Education Association. Nessel has joined those organizations to start a public conversation about school discipline. She has asked the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to update their rules on student discipline. AG Nessel wants to make restorative justice a top priority.
AG Nessel has worked hard to promote restorative justice in schools. She led a group of 23 attorneys general in sending a letter to DOE and DOJ. The letter asked the departments to bring back the school guidance package that was withdrawn in 2018. This package addressed racial disparities in school discipline. The letter also asked that the guidance be expanded to cover unfair discipline based on sex, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
AG Nessel met with members of DOE and DOJ, and, at that time, she stated:
“…restorative practices improve school environments and reduce exclusionary discipline, keeping students in the classroom and ready to learn…It is great to see DOE and DOJ welcoming our feedback and learning about the important work Michigan educators are doing. The more schools embrace restorative practices and positive school environments, the less disparities we will see in school discipline, meaning less kids shuffled through the school-to-prison pipeline.”
The link between school discipline methods like suspension or expulsion and higher incarceration rates is clear. One study found that going to a school with high suspension or expulsion rates raises a student's chance of future jail time by 17%. For minority students, the chance goes up by another 3.1%. This study was completed by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
What the research also shows is that school discipline like suspension and expulsion disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic, AAPI, Indigenous, disabled, and LGBTQ+ students, which is deeply damaging.
These disciplinary methods have real consequences for students. Nessel believes we owe it to our country's next generation of leaders to continue the progress that was being made across the country before the pandemic to create a more fair public education system.
Read the AG’s Letter on Restorative Practices (PDF)
AG Nessel has visited many Michigan schools to learn about their restorative justice practices. Her visits included speaking with administrators to get their input. She is still very interested in seeing restorative justice in action.
If you have a success story regarding your school’s restorative practices program, AG Nessel invites you to share it with her office by clicking the link below. She would love to come to see your program in action.