Incarceration Records
Michigan Incarcerations and Criminal Justice System
The Michigan Criminal Justice System is a complex entity that encompasses many government agencies. It's a large network of laws, regulations, and institutions that work together to maintain law and order. This state's criminal justice system is based around it's court system and incarcerations of those that are convicted of crimes in the state. We will go over the various classification of crimes, the court process, and the roles of various entities.
The Structure of Michigan's Criminal Justice System
The state's Criminal Justice System is a multi-tiered structure that includes law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities.
Law enforcement agencies uphold and enforce the law and generally maintain public safety. Courts adjudicate criminal and civil cases, and deliver sentences and penalties. Correctional facilities, under the MI Department of Corrections (MDOC), carry out these incarceration sentences. Each part of this criminal justice system plays an important role in maintaining order in the state.
Criminal offenses are classified into three main categories: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. This classification helps to determine the severity of the punishment for the respective crime.
Felonies are the serious crimes that carry a potential sentence of more than one year in prison. They include offenses such as murder, rape, sexual assault, aggravated assault, and armed robbery.
Misdemeanors, while considered serious criminal acts, are less severe offenses than felonies. A misdemeanor typically carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail, or fines, penalties, and probation. Examples of these include theft, disturbing the peace, and DUIs. Then there are criminal infractions, which are mostly comprised of traffic citations, and other non-violent ordinance violations such as jaywalking, or noise complaints.
- Felonies: Murder, Rape, Armed Robbery
- Misdemeanors: Petty Theft, Disorderly Conduct, Minor Drug Possession
- Infractions: traffic citations, noise complaints, loitering, jaywalking
How the Criminal Incarceration Process Works
The state's criminal incarceration process begins with an arraignment in court. This is the defendants first court appearance where they are formally charged with a crime, and enter a plea.
The second step after the arraignment, is the preliminary examination of the criminal case. This is where judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed to a trial. If this criminal court case goes to trial and the defendant is found guilty, the final step is the conviction and sentencing. This is where the judge determines the punishment for the crime., or sometimes the jury.
Then if the defendant does not like the outcome they may enter an appeal. There must be enough evidence that an appeal can move forward, or it will be rejected by the appeals court.
Then once the court case is finalized and the person is still found guilty, they will either spend their time in prison for serious crimes. Or, they may receive probation and may be required to pay fines or restitution for their crime. The sentencing and duration of an inmate in prison will be determined by the courts. The judge, or jury will also determine if the person will be eligible for parole at some point, which really depends on the severity of the criminal act committed.