Michigan Senate Committee Advances Violent Crime Clearance Act Amid Calls for More Resources

Michigan lawmakers are moving forward with legislation designed to help police solve more violent crimes by providing additional resources for investigations.

Senate Committee Passes Violent Crime Clearance Act

On March 20, the Michigan Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety passed Senate Bill 613, known as the Violent Crime Clearance Act. The legislation aims to improve violent crime clearance rates across Michigan by establishing a grant program to support law enforcement agencies.

The committee, chaired by State Senator Stephanie Chang, heard testimony from multiple sources during the hearing held March 20-23. Helen Weston from the Niskanen Center appeared before the committee to support the bill, arguing that low clearance rates directly undermine public safety.

Clearance Rates at Historic Lows

Michigan's violent crime clearance rates have fallen consistently since the 1960s, and the state is no exception to this trend. According to data presented during the hearing, Michigan solved only about 40 percent of violent crime cases in 2023.

This means that if someone commits a violent crime in Michigan, there is a 60 percent chance they would get away with it. For victims, it means a 60 percent chance they would be denied justice.

"When a violent individual victimizes someone in Michigan, they have a decent chance of getting away with it," Weston said. "The solution lies in improving law enforcement's ability to identify, apprehend, and prosecute violent criminals, which will require a robust and sustained commitment to ensure that investigations are adequately resourced."

What the Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 613 and companion House Bill 5097 would establish a grant program to provide law enforcement agencies across Michigan with additional resources for investigating violent crimes. The legislation specifically targets:

• Hiring, training, and retaining homicide detectives and violent crime investigators
• Acquiring and upgrading forensic and investigative technology and equipment
• Supporting victims, families, and witnesses with funeral services, crime scene clean up, and relocation expenses
• Improving data collection and reporting on clearance rates

The Michigan Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed the legislation. Recent polling also shows overwhelming support from Michigan voters: 82 percent of voters support the Violent Crime Clearance Act, including 88 percent of Republicans, 83 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of independents.

A Victim's Story

The legislation gained momentum after the tragic case of Leslie Hollins, a Detroit mother whose home was broken into by three masked, armed men. Hollins and her 13-year-old daughter escaped after she jumped out a second-story window, but Hollins severely injured her leg during the fall and spent 18 months in a wheelchair.

"Hollins spoke to police in the hospital, but the masked men were never found," Ally Alfonsetti, a legislative strategist for Prison Fellowship, said. "When crime goes unpunished, victims like Hollins receive no closure, and cycles of violence continue."

"We have to do better," Hollins said. "We need to ensure the police have the proper resources to investigate these crimes."

Next Steps

The Senate committee passed SB 613 along with Senate Bills 508 and 510 during the same hearing session. SB 508 would protect immigrant neighbors by designating schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship as protected spaces where federal ICE agents cannot conduct enforcement actions without a judicial warrant.

The legislation now moves to the Senate floor for a vote. If passed by both chambers, the bill would be sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her consideration.

Broader Context

During the same committee hearing, other bills addressing public safety issues were also considered. The committee passed Senate Bills 508 and 510, which would require federal immigration agents to be identifiable in uniform and not masked. The bills also require agents to wear body-worn cameras.

Additionally, the broader Senate has recently passed bipartisan legislation to tackle medical debt facing Michiganders. The legislation would establish clear guidelines for hospitals to offer financial assistance programs and regulate how and when debt can be collected.

The committee also advanced legislation to combat Michigan's child care crisis, which would codify the Tri-Share program that splits the cost of child care equally among employers, the state, and employees.