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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.

About the Unit

Howell Exoneration

Chief Gail Pamukov
gail.pamukov@macombgov.org

Deputy Chief Christopher Petrides
Christopher.Petrides@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).


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October 2 is Wrongful Conviction Day, a time to acknowledge that wrongful convictions happen and to reflect on the profound harm they cause. When someone is wrongfully convicted, they can lose years of their freedom, along with the chance to build a family, support loved ones, and earn a living. The impact ripples through families, leaving them devastated. For victims, the uncertainty of knowing the real perpetrator remains at large can lead to renewed trauma. Society pays the price because the real perpetrator often roams free, committing more crimes.  No one, not one sector of society benefits when people are wrongfully convicted.  

The National Registry of Exonerations reports that since 1989, 3,593 people have been exonerated in the United States.  The Registry reports that Glynn Simmons of Oklahoma, spent 48 years, 1 month and 18 days in prison (1975-2023), before being released.  In Michigan, Richard Phillips, was in prison for 46 years, 1 month and 6 days prior to being released in 2017.  These men and their families can never recover the lost time.  To better understand the causes of wrongful convictions and learn about the exonerations of the 3,593 cases referenced above, please take a look at the National Registry of Exonerations website at https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration

“As prosecutors, our duty is to seek justice, not just convictions. Wrongful Conviction Day reminds us of the profound consequences when the criminal justice system fails. When an innocent person is wrongfully convicted, their life, the lives of their family members, and the victims’ sense of security are shattered. That’s why I established the Conviction Integrity Unit—to ensure that if mistakes were made, we correct them. It's our responsibility to uphold the integrity of our justice system and ensure that the right person is held accountable. We cannot give back lost time, but we can prevent future injustices,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.

Prosecutor Lucido created the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) in 2022. The mission of the (CIU) is to investigate claims of factual innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the convicted played no role in the criminal act. To date, the Unit has had one exoneration. For more information about the Macomb County CIU please visit https://www.macombgov.org/CIU

On Wrongful Conviction Day, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office Conviction Integrity Unit and Prosecutor Lucido, asks everyone to remember that famous quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., "that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."   The Macomb County Prosecutors’ Office takes those words seriously and will continue to do our best to bend the arc in the direction of justice.

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.

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