Conviction Integrity Unit

The mission of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), is to investigate claims of factual innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the convicted defendant played no role in the criminal act.

I want to:

About the Unit

Howell Exoneration

Chief Gail Pamukov
gail.pamukov@macombgov.org

Research by legal scholars shows innocent people are in prison. Convicting and imprisoning the innocent ruins lives, decimates families, and allows the guilty to go free and commit other crimes. Victims have a false sense of security that the perpetrator is in prison or otherwise punished.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido is committed to ensuring that convictions are valid so that the innocent are protected, the guilty punished and crime victims receive the justice they deserve.

To fulfill its mission, the Macomb County Conviction Integrity Unit is dedicated to analyzing and investigating eligible claims of factual innocence to determine if an innocent person was convicted and if so, seek the most appropriate remedy to right that wrong.

1 American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Standards for the Prosecution Function, Fourth Edition (2017), Standard 3-1.2 Functions and Duties on the Prosecutor.;

2 MRPC 3.8 (g): “When a prosecutor knows of clear and convincing evidence establishing that a defendant in the prosecutor’s jurisdiction is innocent of the crime for which the defendant was prosecuted, the prosecutor shall seek to remedy the conviction. (Emphasis added).

An applicant (person seeking CIU help), must meet the following requirements: 3

  1. You must have been convicted in Macomb County in a case prosecuted by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Federal proceedings and cases that arose in other States or Counties will not be accepted for review or investigation.
  2. You must present a claim of factual innocence. That is, you played no role in the crime at issue.
  3. New, credible, material information must support your claim of innocence. This is evidence not previously specifically addressed by any court. You might know of such evidence, or it may be identified during a CIU investigation of your case.
  4. All appeals must be final.
  5. A guilty plea is eligible for review if you can show factual innocence based on newly discovered evidence.

3 The CIU may consider Applications not meeting all of the Eligibility criteria in exceptional circumstances, where the interests of justice require such action.

The CIU will not investigate cases where either of the following exists:

  1. You allege judicial errors such as unfavorable rulings, procedural errors, and sentencing errors. Nor will the CIU generally investigate affirmative defenses such as self-defense, consent, lack of intent, etc.
     
  2. The CIU will not investigate claims that have already been considered by a judge or jury, or raised by post conviction proceedings such as direct appeal, federal habeas, or MCR 6.500.

 

  1. You must meet CIU Eligibility requirements.
     
  2. Read, complete and sign the Advice of Rights. Return with the application.
     
  3. Read, complete the Application and return it as directed.
     
  4. The Application can be filled in and submitted electronically. Or, you may click, print, fill in and email the Application to the CIU. Or, upon written request, the CIU will send an Application to you for completion. A completed Application or a written request for one can be sent to the address below contained within "Further Information".

For electronic submission, click on numbers 1 and 2. Then complete the forms as directed.

  1. Instructions and Eligibility
  2. Advice of Rights and Application

For email or mail submission, click on the following PDF Advice of Rights and Application.

 

If you have additional questions, please contact: Gail Pamukov, APA, Chief of the Macomb County CIU by:

  1. Email: gail.pamukov@macombgov.org
  2. Or, write:

Gail Pamukov, APA, Chief Of Macomb CIU,
Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
1 South Main, 3rd Floor, Mount Clemens Michigan, 48043

The Macomb County Conviction Integrity Unit maintains policies to support its mission.

MCPO policies