Justice Initiatives

Criminal Issues Initiative

This is the fourth initiative of the Committee on Justice Initiatives. It resulted from the work of dedicated individuals on the Criminal Issues Workgroup who issued their final report in March 2006. The initiative began its work on October 30, 2006. The dual purposes of this initiative are to address issues of indigent criminal defense in Michigan and to educate the legal community on civil collateral consequences. Criminal Issues Initiative Roster

To be directed to the Michigan Reentry Resources webpage, which contains information on civil legal issues facing people with criminal records, please visit http://reentry.mplp.org.

Downloads

Know Your Rights Quick Guides

The State Bar of Michigan Criminal Issues Initiative offers the following materials to attorneys, judges, and organizations or social services providers who assist people with criminal records.

Order free, printed brochures!

  • Employment Brochure —Quick guide to reentry information on employment law issues for persons with a criminal conviction.
  • Immigration Brochure —Need-to-know information on immigration law issues, directed toward persons with a criminal conviction.
  • Housing Brochure —An outline of a person's housing rights after a criminal conviction.
  • Attorney-Client Questionnaire —An intake took for attorneys to use with clients.  It is designed to assist attorneys in avoiding unintended civil consequences or future legal actions for the client.
  • Reentry Resources Card (online version unavailable)—A durable, reusable wallet-sized card directing users to Michigan's reentry law website—a source of relevant, current information on civil legal issues facing individuals with a criminal record.
  • Children, Child Support, and Parental Rights (read online) or print version Quick guide to issues relating to children, child support, and parental rights directed toward persons with a criminal conviction.

If you have questions, please contact materials@mail.michbar.org or (800) 968-1442, ext. 6396. The Michigan State Bar Foundation provided support for the development of these materials. Funding does not necessarily reflect an endorsement of their content.

Links of Interest

Organizations and entities pertinent to the Criminal Issues Initiative:

Public Policy

Public Policy Reports

Criminal Issues Initiative

  • 2015-2016 Legislative Session

    SB0251 Probate Code of 1939, Consent Calender for Juveniles
  • 2013-2014 Legislative Session

    HB5238 An Act to Provide for Setting Aside the Conviction in Certain Criminal Cases
    HB4083 Michigan Crime Stoppers Act
    HB4451 Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation
    HB4694 Revised Judicature Act of 1961, Mental Health Courts
    HB4695 Revised Judicature Act of 1961, Mental Health Courts
    HB4696 Revised Judicature Act of 1961, Mental Health Courts
    HB4697 Revised Judicature Act of 1961, Mental Health Courts
    HB5078 The Code of Criminal Procedure, Sentencing Guidelines Commission
    SB0098 Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation
    SB0105 DNA Identification Profiling System Act
    SB0106 Probate Code of 1939, Collection of DNA Samples
    SB0107 The Michigan Penal Code, Collection of DNA Samples
  • 2011-2012 Legislative Session

    HB5804 A Bill to Create the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission