The Charitable Trust Section functions for Michigan citizens as a repository of financial and other information about charities they may want to support. At any one time there are more than 10,000 charities registered with the Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section. Most charities soliciting contributions in Michigan are required to register with the Charitable Trust Section. One of the goals of the Attorney General is to help educate the public and to assist them in making wise choices about what charities to support.
The Great Lakes define Michigan’s borders, but they are so much more than that. The Great Lakes are the lifeblood of our state, boosting our economy and providing drinking water and adventure to so many. Their preservation is up to all of us, and we all have a responsibility to protect them.
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 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 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 Task Force launched in 2019 and consists of more than 55 different organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sectors - all working together to combat elder abuse.
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.
In late 2018, Attorney General Dana Nessel was elected and upon taking office in 2019, she made decisions to put a conflict wall in place that allowed her to lead the civil litigation into the Flint Water Crisis. The Office of Special Counsel was no longer needed, and Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy were tapped to lead the criminal investigation.
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.
Michigan Identity Theft Support
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern. Consumer Alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General.
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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Thank you for your continued interest in Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force – an alliance representing more than 55 different organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors – all working together to reduce barriers facing our aging population.
In this issue, you will learn about the partnership that represents a major accomplishment for our second set of initiatives. We also have a new complaint system that will allow nursing home employees to report suspected financial exploitation. And our library of educational videos remains a valuable resource for anyone who prefers an audio/visual format to review the important knowledge presented at our symposiums, as well as all the consequential ways we protect and advocate for vulnerable adults.
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In June Attorney General Nessel again testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee in support of the four-bill package (HB 4847 – HB 4050). The bills accomplish the remainder of the Task Force’s First Initiatives, and were voted out of the House’s Judicial Committee, and are now with the full House. We look forward to the House voting on the legislation and it moving to the Senate.
With the late July announcement of a Complaint Initiative to Protect Vulnerable Adults in Nursing Homes, the Task Force has taken a major step in accomplishing initiative #10 in the Set of Second Initiatives:
10. Refresh partnership with Social Security Administration to identify instances of embezzlement from vulnerable adults in nursing homes. Send letters to all nursing homes soliciting information on suspicious financial activity, i.e., known resident income coupled with history of non-payment. Take appropriate enforcement action.
The remaining initiatives in the Set of Second Initiatives are legislative and the Task Force does not wish to take emphasis away from the first bill package (HB 4847 – HB 4050). So, while waiting for the legislature to act, the Task Force is announcing significant progress on their Set of Third Initiatives.
Many of the educational resources were debuted during the May and June symposiums attending by several hundred live participants, and which remain available on the Attorney General’s website. The resources include:
A new feature on the Attorney General’s website allows for a search of videos by keyword, category, or topic.
Relatively new to the website include Resident Rights in Nursing Homes Resident Rights; Adult Foster Care Homes Resident Rights, Home for the Aged Resident Rights, and Elder Justice Multi-Disciplinary Teams videos.
A key educational resources still being developed is comprehensive education and resources for investigators and prosecutors on best practices to pursue cases of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
The Task Force anticipates making these resource available through videos and in-person training for law enforcement and prosecutors. The expected release date is early November.
The task force anticipates it will debut by early next year a new electronic elder financial exploitation/patient abuse complaint form and video instructions.
We also expect to produce a more detailed video helping lawyers and other professionals package financial exploitation complaints that are more likely to compel law enforcement to investigate cases.
In an effort to better protect vulnerable adults in nursing homes, the Department of Attorney General launched a new complaint system that creates a direct line between the Department and facility administrators who may notice warning signs of financial exploitation.
The new portal is now live and focuses on the tenth initiative in the Elder Abuse Task Force’s (EATF) second set of initiatives. Nursing home administrators will provide information directly to the Department’s Health Care Fraud Division for follow up and investigation.
If concerned staff knows or has reason to believe that someone is using a nursing home resident's assets or benefits for purposes other than the care, needs and wishes of the resident, a complaint may be filed online.
The complaint system is accessed directly through the Department’s website.
