Macomb County Prosecutor Sets Record for Warrant Efficiency Amid Surge in Child and Adult Sexual Assault Cases

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         

September 12, 2024               

Macomb County Prosecutor Sets Record for Warrant Efficiency Amid Surge in Child and Adult Sexual Assault Cases

Mount Clemens, Mich. — The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Child Protection Unit has achieved a significant milestone, reducing the number of pending child protection warrant requests to an all-time low, even as the number of sexual assault cases continues to rise.

"Criminal cases involving children require an extraordinary level of care and sensitivity. Thanks to the support of our county commissioners, who approved the necessary resources, and the leadership of our unit chief and her dedicated team, we've made our warrant processing more efficient than ever. Their hard work ensures that victims' voices are heard, while still holding offenders fully accountable for their actions," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.

As of yesterday, the office has just 15 pending Child Protection Unit warrant requests, down from 32 in February—a reduction of more than half. This is the lowest number of pending requests the unit has seen all year, despite the complexity and sensitive nature of these cases, which often involve extensive preparation, medical records, and interviews. In June 2023, WXYZ-TV reported that Macomb County had 11 sex crime warrant requests pending for more than six months. That number has now dropped to just one.

The Child Protection Unit handles some of the county’s most serious cases, including child abuse, criminal sexual conduct cases with minor and adult victims, and child death cases. Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido credited the unit for their dedication to accelerating the process without compromising the care required in these emotionally charged cases.

Having a lower number of pending warrant requests means that victims of child abuse and sexual assault experience quicker case resolutions, reducing the emotional strain of prolonged legal proceedings. For victims of sensitive crimes like child abuse and sexual assault, faster processing ensures they receive justice and support sooner. For the public, it enhances trust in the legal system, as quicker responses to serious crimes contribute to a safer community by holding offenders accountable more efficiently.

The Child Protection and Criminal Sexual Conduct Unit, consisting of six assistant prosecuting attorneys, has streamlined its approach by leveraging new technology, including a case management system and a digital evidence database. These tools and an electronic warrant portal have enabled the team to handle cases more efficiently and process requests faster, according to Lucido.

The number of cases handled by the unit has steadily increased over recent years. In 2021, the unit managed 107 cases, followed by 102 in 2022. By 2023, the number surged to 129 cases, and so far in 2024, the unit has already overseen 111 cases.

One factor contributing to the unit's success is its use of a vertical prosecution model, where one prosecutor handles a case from start to finish. This continuity allows for better relationships with victims and more consistent case management on these types of cases, Lucido said. Additionally, the office offers victim advocacy services, ensuring survivors receive support throughout the legal process.

Lucido remains committed to protecting the county’s most vulnerable residents, noting that the continued improvement in processing times reflects his office’s dedication to both justice and victim care.

“Our Child Protection Unit is led by an exceptional chief who, along with her dedicated team, has worked tirelessly to handle some of the most difficult cases we face," said Prosecutor Lucido. "Their commitment to protecting our children, while ensuring justice is served, is nothing short of remarkable. They’ve set a new standard in Macomb County for efficiency and compassion in prosecuting these sensitive cases.”

Greatly improving child abuse and sexual assault 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.
• Record Set for Fast Domestic Violence Warrant Processing:  the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is processing domestic violence warrant requests more efficiently than ever, 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.
• 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.
• Criminal charge requests for juveniles reviewed faster than ever:  The Juvenile Unit is now authorizing or denying petitions at an unprecedented speed, with the number of pending requests reduced to the lowest levels in recent memory, supporting the broader goal of rehabilitating young offenders and protecting vulnerable children.
• 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 assistant prosecutors 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.

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