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.
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 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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January 15, 2021
LANSING – A former Grand Traverse County Jail administrator was sentenced to prison today for misconduct in office, embezzlement and willful neglect of duty, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
Todd Ritter, 48, of Lake Ann, was sentenced to at least 16 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of roughly $11,300 and court fees by Judge Kevin Elsenheimer in Grand Traverse County 13th Circuit Court. Ritter pleaded guilty in December to embezzlement by a public official over $50, misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty. Ritter’s sentencings for each charge – which will run concurrently – are as follows:
“Whether elected or appointed to serve in the public’s interest, those doing so must maintain a high level of integrity and care in performing their duties,” Nessel said. “Mr. Ritter was tasked with overseeing the care of inmates at the Grand Traverse County Jail and to some degree taxpayer dollars. He neglected to meet those responsibilities with professionalism and respect for the trust placed in him by the public, and he must now answer for those crimes.”
Ritter was put on administrative leave by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office in April 2019 after reports of his unprofessional conduct began surfacing, including inappropriate use of county-owned property and inappropriate sexual relationships and communications with female inmates housed at the jail he oversaw.
In one instance, following the completion of her sentence at the Grand Traverse County Jail, a female inmate should have been transferred to Kalkaska County Jail to serve an additional sentence in that jail. Instead, Ritter used his position of authority to keep her in Grand Traverse County. At the same time, Grand Traverse County inmates had to boarded – at taxpayer cost – at other jails due to overcrowding.
Michigan State Police led the investigation into the allegations following an internal review by outside legal consultants hired by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office in May 2019. The Attorney General agreed in early April 2020 to review the case after a petition was submitted by the Grand Traverse County prosecutor, who requested the review to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest.
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