Macomb County Prosecutor Sets Record for Fast Domestic Violence Warrant Processing

Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Dawn Fraylick, Communications Director
Office: +1 (586) 469-5737 
Cell: +1 (586) 842-4421
Email: Dawn.Fraylick@macombgov.org                        

August 23, 2024

Macomb County Prosecutor Sets Record for Fast Domestic Violence Warrant Processing

Mount Clemens, Mich. — The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is processing domestic violence warrant requests more efficiently than ever, with a backlog of pending requests reduced to historic lows, according to Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.

The office currently has only eight pending domestic violence warrant requests, a significant improvement compared to the years before Lucido took office when warrant requests seeking domestic violence charges for out-of-custody defendants could accumulate. Lucido credited his Domestic Violence Unit “dream team” for the progress in handling warrant requests faster than ever before, which focuses on challenging cases involving certain types of violence, and new case management and digital evidence systems.

“Domestic violence cases require both sensitivity and strength,” Lucido said. “Our Domestic Violence Unit is made up of a dream team of prosecutors who are deeply committed to eliminating domestic assault in Macomb County. We take every case seriously and ensure that offenders are held accountable.”

The Domestic Violence Unit, comprised of three assistant prosecuting attorneys, handles warrant requests for cases ranging from misdemeanors punishable by up to 93 days in jail to murder charges. 

New technology implemented by Lucido has enabled the Domestic Violence Unit to process warrant requests paperlessly, quickly review body camera footage and other digital evidence, and provide timely information to crime victims with greater efficiency.

From January to July 2024, law enforcement agencies referred 2,105 domestic violence-related warrant requests to the Prosecutor's Office. This number continues a trend of increasing domestic violence case referrals in recent years. In 2023, the office received 2,650 referrals, up from 1,982 in 2022 and 1,919 in 2021. The upward trend in domestic violence warrant requests is a marked shift from prior years, with 1,834 referrals in 2020 and 1,977 in 2019. The Domestic Violence Unit currently has 282 open cases.

Lucido acknowledged the rise in domestic violence warrant referrals but emphasized that his office is prepared to meet the demand. “Domestic violence is a serious issue in our community, and we are committed to prosecuting offenders aggressively while providing critical support to survivors,” said Lucido.

Under Lucido, the unit has taken a special interest in investigating and pursuing cases of witness tampering, when defendants use the recorded jail calls or texts to try to get the victims to not cooperate.

The Domestic Violence Unit employs a vertical prosecution model, in which a single prosecutor follows a case from initiation to conclusion. This approach enables prosecutors to build rapport with victims and ensures consistency in handling each case. Victim advocacy services are also available to survivors of domestic violence in Macomb County, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

Under Michigan law, individuals who assault a spouse, former spouse, someone they are dating, a person they share a child with, or a resident or former resident of their household can face severe penalties. A first conviction is punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a second by up to one year, and a third conviction elevates the charge to a felony with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

While domestic violence warrant referrals have increased in recent years, Lucido stressed that his office is adapting to the rising caseload, prioritizing the protection of survivors and the prosecution of offenders.

For more information on domestic violence resources in Macomb County, residents are encouraged to visit the Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Unit webpage at https://www.macombgov.org/domesticviolence.

Greatly improving domestic violence warrant request processing is not the only improvements Prosecutor Lucido has made since January 2021.  Other progress includes:

• Child Support Collections Increased: intensified efforts to collect child support from parents who owe $5,000 or more, successfully collecting $1 million for Macomb County children since last year under this new initiative, with most collections done while avoiding criminal prosecution.
   
• Macomb County Prosecutor Shatters Glass Ceiling: Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido hired a record number of women as assistant prosecuting attorneys, with women filling 70% of new positions in the past three years. A majority of all assistant prosecuting attorneys handling cases in the county are now women. Lucido also promoted a record number of women to lead special units within the prosecutor’s office. After implementing an objective hiring process, and a  commitment to build a diverse and inclusive team to prosecute crimes and reflect the community we serve, Lucido successfully filled all assistant prosecutor positions despite a national shortage, a rarity for an office this size.
   
• Victim services improved 67%: More Macomb County crime victims get more help. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office increased by ⅔ the percentage of crime victims receiving crucial support services compared to 2020, the year before Lucido took office. More victims now receive victim rights services, including but not limited to assigned victim advocates, help getting restitution, hearing notices or other kinds of support.
   
• Mental Health Assessments for Gun Crime Defendants: Started a first-in-Michigan policy requiring mental health assessments as part of bond conditions in all gun crime cases, using existing resources to provide an opportunity for mental health services before a suspect gets a chance to commit another crime with a gun.
   
• Hate Crimes Unit Launched: created a Hate Crimes Unit, securing a vital U.S. Department of Justice grant paying 100% of all its costs, a distinction granted to only 16 organizations nationwide last year. Appointed Michigan's first and only solely-dedicated hate crimes prosecutor at a county level, ensuring robust enforcement and community education.
   
• Conviction Integrity Unit Exoneration: started this unit to investigate claims of innocence as a result of clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense, and to review claims of factual innocence based on new evidence such as DNA.  This unit secured an exoneration.
   
• Major Crimes Unit Launched: Prosecutor Lucido organized the top-ranked assistant prosecutors to focus on major crimes, and train more APAs to handle these types of cases.
   
• Warrant Appeals Unit Launched: Established the state’s first formal prosecutor’s office unit allowing domestic violence victims (and all other crime victims) and law enforcement officials to have a second review of warrant requests where charges were denied.
   
• Digital Evidence Management Platform Implemented: With over 800,000 pieces of digital evidence, police agencies can now upload digital evidence, which the Prosecutor’s Office reviews, and defense lawyers can download directly, resulting in “discovery” information faster than it’s ever been provided.
   
• Increased Internships: Hosted over 200 law school and college interns. Court rules permit law student interns to handle court hearings under supervision, which helps the office serve victims and expedite cases.
   
• Paperless Crime Victim Rights: Implemented the county’s first paperless system for crime victims to request rights and notifications via text message or online.
   
• Police Training Provided: Regular training sessions by assistant prosecutors are conducted for every police agency in Macomb County, including updates on recent court cases.
   
• Enhanced Auto Theft Unit: Addressed a surge in attacks on car dealerships and manufacturing plants, prosecuting more continuing criminal enterprise cases in the past two years than in the previous decade, resulting in over $800,000 in restitution.
   
• Record number of national good government awards received:  The National Association of Counties (NaCO) presented 26 awards to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office during Lucido’s tenure.  The 12 awards received in 2024 is the highest (record) number of awards the organization has ever presented in one year.

###