Detroit Law Department to Prosecute Certain Misdemeanors

September 4, 2025

Detroit City Council has approved an ordinance allowing the city's law department to prosecute certain misdemeanors beginning in summer 2026, a change described as "historic" by city officials. The 8-1 vote transfers prosecution authority for crimes like retail fraud, larceny, and domestic violence from Wayne County to the city of Detroit. This shift aims to give Detroit more control over sentencing while allowing the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office to focus on violent crimes.

Who is affected

Detroit residents and crime victims
People accused of misdemeanors in Detroit
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office
Detroit Law Department
Detroit Police Department

What action is being taken

The city of Detroit is preparing to take over prosecution of specific misdemeanors starting July 2026
The Detroit Law Department is planning to hire four attorneys and two paralegals to handle the new caseload
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is shifting focus to prioritize violent crimes
The city is allocating approximately $700,000 for implementation of this initiative

Why it matters

It brings prosecution "closer to the people of the city of Detroit" and under oversight by Detroit officials
It allows the Wayne County Prosecutor to dedicate more resources to serious crimes
The city will have greater control over sentencing and could offer programs to keep crimes off people's records
It addresses what Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett Jr. calls "quality of life issues"
It ensures "crime victims have access to the justice system, regardless of the offense severity"

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle