The Michigan Department of Attorney General (DAG) works tirelessly to protect and serve the people of Michigan. The DAG handles a wide range of legal matters from civil and criminal cases, to providing legal counsel to state agencies and officers, to advocating for crime victims.
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 (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.
Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues.
An expungement is a way to remove past offenses from your public record. Expansions under the “Clean Slate” laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors, excluding certain assault or weapons offenses and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
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 workers enjoy a wide variety of legal protections regarding issues at work. There are a number of state and federal statutes that protect their wages, safety, and well-being.
Opioid addiction knows no social or economic barriers; it doesn’t care about race or gender. It claims young and old alike. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is committed to fighting this crisis.
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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May 21, 2026
LANSING – Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Assistant Attorney General Nimish R. Ganatra (PNG) as the new head of the Department of Attorney General’s Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit. Following recent reports of suspected hate bias across the state, including a confrontation with a Muslim candidate in Dearborn Heights and distribution of antisemitic flyers in Berkley, the Attorney General is also urging residents to report threats, suspicious activity, and acts of bias-motivated violence to local law enforcement and the Unit.
“I am incredibly proud to welcome Nimish to lead our Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit,” said Attorney General Nessel. “As a veteran prosecutor, he brings decades of experience fighting for Michigan residents. With him at the helm, our Unit will continue its great work of diligently investigating and prosecuting these crimes to the fullest extent possible. No one should fear for their safety because of who they are or where they worship. I encourage anyone with knowledge of a hate crime to contact my office.”
Ganatra, who joined the Department of Attorney General earlier this year, has centered his career in public service as a prosecutor, making a lasting and meaningful impact on the justice system in Michigan and beyond. He began at the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office in 2001, where he helped build a nationally recognized Domestic Violence unit and co-founded the 15th District Sobriety Court in Ann Arbor. He later brought that expertise to Worcester, Massachusetts, establishing a Domestic Violence unit in the District Attorney’s office that continues to serve the community today. As the Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division from 2023-2026, he led all criminal prosecutions for Washtenaw County. Ganatra is a former co-chair of the State Bar of Michigan Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and Practice and a published author of a law journal article discussing barriers that immigrant women of color face in domestic violence cases. He is the former co-chair of the Judiciary Committee for the Washtenaw County Bar Association (WCBA). Since 2018 he has served as co-chair of the Race, Gender, and Ethnic Bias Awareness Committee of the WCBA.
Attorney General Nessel created the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit in 2019 to work closely with federal and local law enforcement partners to ensure suspected hate crimes are thoroughly investigated and the offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This Unit has taken on high-profile cases, including against the anti-government militia group the Wolverine Watchmen and the neo-Nazi, white-supremacist hate group The Base, as well as dozens and dozens of cases involving threats against elected officials at all levels, both Democrats and Republicans alike, throughout the state, from lawmakers to sitting judges.
According to the Michigan State Police Crime Dashboard, 620 incidents of hate bias were reported in Michigan in 2024, targeting individuals based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other protected classes. Data shows that nearly 60% of domestic terrorists begin to exhibit concerning behavior more than a year in advance of their plot. Recognizing warning signs like grievances, violent ideation, researching and planning the attack, pre-attack preparation, and probing can help prevent mass attacks. More information is available on the Michigan State Police’s Stop a Plot webpage.
In May 2023, Michigan passed multiple firearm safety laws to protect communities from terror attacks and gun violence, including Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which allow civil courts to temporarily prevent people at risk of harming themselves or others from possessing or buying guns. Family members can petition for an ERPO to temporarily remove firearms from a loved one posing a danger. For more information on how to file an ERPO, visit the Department of Attorney General’s website.
If you are a victim of a hate crime or have credible information about a hate crime, please contact your local police department first and then the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit via email. The Unit will ensure credible tips reach the appropriate investigative agency, will launch independent investigations when sufficient cause exists, and will offer departmental resources to assist law enforcement partners.
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Coalition challenges unlawful rule that could restrict access to advanced education and worsen workforce shortages