Crime figures were released last week by the Detroit Police Department and the news wasn’t good when it came to homicides. The city has seen 23 more homicides compared to the same third-quarter period in 2010, marking a 31% increase. Overall, 2011 murders have jumped 19% and the department says it’s largely the fault of offenders already on probation. [Read more…]
Genesee County Sheriff Running Unlawful Drug Checkpoints
In an effort to keep drugs under control in Flint, Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell has been using narcotics check points to stop and search vehicles. He has assembled a posse (no, really, he calls them his “Sheriff’s Posse”) and they are using drug dogs to check motorists for drugs. [Read more…]
Michigan Pot Dispensaries Closing Their Doors
All it takes is one court decision to stop the medical marijuana trade in its tracks. At least that’s what Michigan is seeing this week after a ruling on Wednesday determined the Compassionate Apothecary in Mt. Pleasant was a public nuisance and needed to be closed. But this single ruling has dispensaries all over the state shutting down. [Read more…]
DWI Penalties Vary Greatly In Michigan
The Free Press this week is working on uncovering just how where you are arrested can affect your sentence in an OWI case. Because judges are allowed a great deal of discretion in misdemeanor cases like those involving drunk driving, what might get you no jail time in Utica could land you over 30 in Warren. [Read more…]
Judges Forbid Medical Marijuana for Probationers on Case-By-Case Basis
You don’t need a prescription to obtain medical marijuana in the state of Michigan—merely a doctor’s note. But that won’t cut it for many judges who believe medical marijuana can and should be regulated for probationers, according to the Daily Telegram. [Read more…]
Flint: From “Vehicle City” to Murder Capital
Over thirty years ago, Flint was booming. Now, it’s imploding. One in five residents is unemployed and the city leads the nation in violent crime rates. Citizens are scared and police seem to be unable to do anything about it. [Read more…]