Former Michigan Prosecutor | Jonathan Andrew Paul
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Michigan State Police - Sex Offender Registry Questions

1/14/2022

 
This information is current of January 2022 - to ensure updated information, here is the live link to the Michigan State Police - https://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-1878_24961-555279--,00.html​

1. Does Michigan provide sex offender information via the Internet?

Yes. Michigan's Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR) website lists convicted sex offenders required to register and be placed on the PSOR under the Sex Offenders Registration Act, 1994 PA 295, as amended

2. How much information about offenders is provided to the public?
The Public Sex Offense Registry site includes: Offender's name, date of birth, registration number, photo, registration details, physical characteristics, known alias(es), scars, marks, tattoos, offense information, address information, campus information, employment information, and vehicle information.

3. I know of someone who was convicted of a sex crime in Michigan, but his/her name is not on the list. Why not?
There are several reasons a sex offender may not be on the Public Sex Offender Registry, including:
  • The offender is an adjudicated juvenile.
  • The offender is deceased.
  • The offender is not a Michigan resident.
  • The offender's conviction was not a listed offense requiring registration.
  • The offender's conviction date was prior to October 1, 1995, and the offender was no longer involved with the criminal justice system for that offense at that time.
  • The offender was granted removal from the registry by a judge via court order.
  • The offender's conviction requiring registration was set aside.
  • The offender is/was a participant in the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) program. 
  • The offender's registration duration has ended.
  • The offender is registered for a single offense of one of the following offenses: 
    • MCL 750.520E (Adult victim)
    • MCL 750.520G2 (Adult victim)
    • MCL 750.10A
    • MCL 750.335A(2)(C)
    • MCL 750.449A(2)
    • Any violation of state law or local ordinance that by its nature constitutes a sexual offense against an individual who is less than 18 years of age.


4. How do I sign up to receive an email notification when a sex offender moves into my neighborhood?
  • Access the Public Sex Offender Registry website. Click on "Email Alerts" in the upper righthand corner of the page and select "Register".
  • Select the radius you would like to search. Options include .25, .5, 1, 2, or 5 mile radiuses. Enter your home and email addresses. A home and email address are required so that the registry can provide you notification when a registered sex offender moves, enrolls in school, or is employed within the radius of the address you have entered. Your email data will not be shared with any other individuals or organizations.
  • Check the box to acknowledge you agree with the "Terms of Use". Click on "Submit".
  • You will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours.
  • You can register multiple addresses with the same email account, i.e., sign up to be notified of offenders living within a radius of your home, school, employment, etc. 


5. How do I change the address and/or radius designations?
To change your address or radius designations, open your last email notification you received and click on the link that reads, "If you wish to update your registration information, please click here and enter your new information". Make your changes and click on Submit.
If your email address changes or if you change Internet Service Provider, please report your new email address to info@crimewatchalert.com so you may continue to receive alerts based on your physical address.


6. I never received an email notification to confirm my registration. Why not?
Because all browsers work differently, the email may have automatically been saved in a folder other than the "new" mail folder. Please check all incoming folders (Spam, Bulk Mail, etc.) of your email service.
To better ensure that you receive the latest information within your neighborhood, please add the following email address to your personal address book: notifications@icrimewatch.net.


7. How do I deactivate my email notification account?
To deactivate your account, go to the Public Sex Offender Registry site and click on "Email Alerts" in the upper righthand corner of the page and select "Un-Register".
Type in your email address two times and click on "Unsubscribe". Please be aware that you will be unsubscribing your email from ALL notifications sent by the MSP Sex Offender Registry for ANY offenders or locations. 




8. Can I track a specific offender's moves?
Yes. After doing a search for an offender, click on the offender's photo or "View Details" and you will be taken to the "Offender Details" page. Click on "Track Offender" in the upper righthand corner. Enter your email address two times and check the box to acknowledge that you agree with the "Terms of Use". Click on "Register". 
You will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. Any time the offender moves, changes employment, or enrolls in school, you will be notified via email.


9. Can I download the entire list of sex offenders and their information from the Internet?
The entire list of registered sex offenders and the corresponding information is not available for download at this time. You can, however, print each page you access.


10. Can the offender's victim information be released?
No. Michigan law does not allow dissemination of victim information.



11. Can you explain the search features on the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry?
 
Search the Registry
  • Name: Must include both a first and last name. Can include partial names. 
  • Registration # or MDOC #: Enter one or the other. If you know the sex offender's registration number or their Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) number, you can search by that number.
  • Street Address: When using this search field, city, county, and/or zip code must also be present.
  • City, County, Zip County: Use this search to locate all published offenders found in a specified city, county, or zip code area. 
See a Neighborhood Map
  • Street Address, City, Zip Code, County: Fill in one or more of these fields to search for sex offenders living in your area. 
  • Radius:  Select .25, .50, 1, 2, or 5 mile radial search. 
Other Search Options
  • Show list of all published offenders.
  • Show list of all incarcerated offenders.
  • Show list of all non-compliant offenders.
12. What does the Status on the Offender Details page mean?
  • See below for a brief description of each Status:
    • Active - The offender is residing in Michigan. 
    • Incarcerated - The offender is currently incarcerated in the state of Michigan.
    • Pending Out of State - The offender is currently relocating to another state or country. Registration requirements in the new state or country have not yet been determined.
    • Inactive Out of State - The offender is residing in another state and working or attending school in Michigan.
    • Absconder - The offender has absconded from the last reported address and whereabouts are unknown. 
    • Homeless - The offender is homeless or otherwise lacks a fixed or temporary residence. 
    • School Only - The offender is residing in another state and attending school in Michigan.
    • Employment Only - The offender is residing in another state and employed in Michigan. 
  • See below for a brief description of each Compliance Status: 
    • Address Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to provide a current address.
    • Campus Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to report enrollment or discontinuation of enrollment in an institution of higher learning.
    • Email/Internet Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to provide internet screen names and/or email addresses or discontinuation of use of internet screen names and/or email addresses (only applies to those individuals whose offense committed date was on or after July 1, 2011). 
    • Employment Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to report employment or discontinuation of employment.
    • Failed to Register Violation - An authenticated notification was received from another state that an offender is coming to the state of Michigan and they did not register in the allotted timeframe. 
    • Failed to Verify Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to verify his/her current address.
    • False Information Violation - The offender reported false information to law enforcement regarding his/her registration. 
    • Fee Violation - The offender has failed to pay a required registration fee.
    • Form Violation - The offender has failed to sign a required registration form.
    • ID (None or Expired) Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to obtain a Michigan driver's license or personal identification card.
    • Immigrant Documents Violation - The offender failed to report immigrant documents.
    • Professional License Violation - The offender failed to report a professional license.
    • Telephone Violation - The offender failed to report a telephone or discontinuation of use a telephone.
    • Vehicle Violation - The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to report a vehicle or discontinuation of use of a vehicle.
13. Can I see a map of an offender's location?
Yes. After doing a search for an offender, click on the offender's photo or "View Details" and you will be taken to the "Offender Details" page. Click on Map Offender in the upper righthand corner and you will be taken to a map of the offender's location. The map is adjustable to zoom in and out. If the offender's address has not been mapped, the Map Offender button will be greyed out and you will not be able to produce a map of the address.

14. Who has to register as a sexual offender in Michigan?
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the following individuals who are domiciled or temporarily reside in this state or who work with or without compensation or are students in this state are required to be registered under this act:
  • An individual who is convicted of a listed offense after October 1, 1995.
  • An individual convicted of a listed offense on or before October 1, 1995 if on October 1, 1995 he or she is on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, or under the jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the probate court or the department of human services for that offense or is placed on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, placed under the jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the probate court or family division of circuit court, or committed to the department of human services after October 1, 1995 for that offense.
  • An individual convicted on or before October 1, 1995 of an offense described in section 2(d)(vi) as added by 1994 PA 295 if on October 1, 1995 he or she is on probation or parole that has been transferred to this state for that offense or his or her probation or parole is transferred to this state after October 1, 1995 for that offense.
  • An individual from another state who is required to register or otherwise be identified as a sex or child offender or predator under a comparable statute of that state.
(2) An individual convicted of an offense added on September 1, 1999 to the definition of listed offense is not required to be registered solely because of that listed offense unless 1 of the following applies:
  • The individual is convicted of that listed offense on or after September 1, 1999.
  • On September 1, 1999, the individual is on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, under the jurisdiction of the family division of circuit court, or committed to the department of human services for that offense or the individual is placed on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, placed under the jurisdiction of the family division of circuit court, or committed to the department of human services on or after September 1, 1999 for that offense.
  • On September 1, 1999, the individual is on probation or parole for that offense which has been transferred to this state or the individual's probation or parole for that offense is transferred to this state after September 1, 1999.
  • On September 1, 1999, in another state or country the individual is on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections or a similar type of state agency, under the jurisdiction of a court that handles matters similar to those handled by the family division of circuit court in this state, or committed to an agency with the same authority as the department of human services for that offense.
(3) An individual who was previously convicted of a listed offense for which he or she was not required to register under this act, but who is convicted of any other felony on or after March 24, 2021.

15. What are the listed offenses?
  • Pursuant to MCL 28.722, the following are the listed offenses that require registration in Michigan. 
  • Child Sexually Abusive Activity or Material Possession (MCL 750.145c4)
  • Aggravated Indecent Exposure, if the victim is less than 18 years of age (MCL 750.335a2b)
  • Unlawful Imprisonment, if the victim is less than 18 years of age (MCL 750.349b)
  • Engaging Services of Prostitution (MCL 750.449a2)
  • Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree, (MCL 750.520e)
  • Assault with Intent to Commit CSC in the Second Degree (MCL 750.520g2)
  • Capturing/Distributing Image of Unclothed Person, if the victim is less than 18 years of age (MCL 750.539j)
  • Any offense committed by a person who was, at the time of the offense, a sexually delinquent person (750.10a)
  • Accosting, Enticing or Soliciting a Child for Immoral Purposes (MCL 750.145a)
  • Accosting, Enticing or Soliciting a Child for Immoral Purposes (prior conviction) (MCL 750.145b)
  • Child Sexually Abusive Activity or Material Producing/Financing (MCL 750.145c2)
  • Child Sexually Abusive Activity or Material Distributing/Promoting (MCL 750.145c3)
  • Use of Internet/Computer System; Prohibited Communication (MCL 750.145d1a)
  • Crime Against Nature or Sodomy, if the victim is less than 18 years of age (MCL 750.158)
  • Gross Indecency Between Male Persons (MCL 750.338)
  • Gross Indecency Between Female Persons (MCL 750.338a)
  • Gross Indecency Between Male & Female Persons (MCL 750.338b)
  • Soliciting, Accosting, or Inviting to Commit Prostitution or Immoral Act, if the victim is less than 18 years of age (MCL 750.448)
  • Pandering (MCL 750.455)
  • Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree (MCL 750.520c)
  • Human Trafficking - Recruiting Minor (MCL 750.462e(a))
  • Kidnapping, if the victim is less than 18 years of age (MCL 750.349)
  • Child Kidnapping, if the victim is less than 13 years of age (MCL 750.350)
  • Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree (MCL 750.520b)
  • Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree (MCL 750.520d)
  • Assault with Intent to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct Involving Sexual Penetration (MCL 750.520g1)
  • Any offense substantially similar to a listed offense under a law of the United States, any state, or any country or under tribal or military law.
16. What are the registry responsibilities of sex offenders?
  1. Offenders must report in-person to their local law enforcement agency or state police post to verify their address either annually, semi-annually, or quarterly, based on conviction(s).
Annually reporting is done within the offender's birth month.

  1. Offenders must report the following information in-person no more than three (3) business days after:
    • Change in residence or domicile
    • Change in place of employment or discontinuation of employment
    • Legal name changes
    • Enrollment at an institution of higher learning or discontinuation of enrollment
  2. Offenders must report the following information in-person or via United States Postal Service or drop-off no more than three (3) business days after the following changes:
    • Any temporary lodging information other than their residence for more than seven (7) days.
    • Vehicle information for vehicles owned or operated by the offender and discontinuation of ownership or use.
    • Any electronic mail (email) addresses and internet identifiers registered to me or used by me. (Only applies to individuals with offenses committed on or after July 1, 2011.)
    • Any new telephone numbers and discontinuation of telephone numbers.
  3. Offenders must report in person to a local law enforcement agency, sheriff's office, or Michigan State Police post not more than three business days before moving to another state.
  4. Offenders must provide the following information during their next verification period:
    • Copies of passport and/or immigration documents
    • Occupational licensing information
  5. Offenders must pay a one-time $50 initial registration fee and an annual $50 registration fee every year thereafter, until a maximum of $550 is reached.
  6. Offenders must maintain a valid Michigan driver's license or personal identification card. (Homeless offenders are exempt.)  
  7. Offenders must sign all required registration forms.
17. How do I obtain additional information on an offense committed by a registered offender?
If you know the county in which the offense was committed, you can contact the court of conviction to request a copy of the court file. A complete directory of Michigan Trial Courts can be found on the Michigan Courts website.
If you do not know the county in which the offense was committed, you can obtain a copy of the criminal history record (CHR) through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). The criminal history record will include the county in which the offense occurred. You can then contact the court of conviction and request a copy of the court file. A search on ICHAT requires the individual's name and date of birth. There is a fee for each search. To access ICHAT, please click here.
Please note: A conviction will not appear on a criminal history check if the offender has a sealed or expunged record or was convicted in another state.

18. What is the difference between the Sex Offender Registry and the Public Sex Offender Registry?
The Sex Offender Registry (SOR) is the database that contains the sex offender registration records (both public and non-public offender information) that is available only for law enforcement purposes.
The Public Sex Offender Registry is the internet site that displays the public offender information contained in the SOR database for the public to view.

19. Are there juvenile offenders on the Public Sex Offender Registry?
No. Adjudicated juvenile offenders do not appear on the Public Sex Offender Registry.

20. What happens when an offender moves to another state?
Offenders who move to another state are required to report to their nearest law enforcement agency 3 business days prior to moving to provide their new address. The MSP Sex Offender Registry Unit then notifies the other state of the offender's reported new address. Offenders who move to another country are required to report to their local law enforcement agency 21 days prior to moving to provide their new address.
After leaving the state, offenders will no longer appear on the Public Sex Offender Registry website and are no longer active registrants unless they relocate back to Michigan.
Once in the new state, offenders must comply with the registry requirements of that state.

21. Who should I contact if I know of an error on the website?
If you are aware of an error regarding an offender's information on the website, you may either submit a tip to the Sex Offender Registry or you can contact the law enforcement agency where the offender's registered address is located. To submit a tip, click on the Submit a Tip button in the upper righthand corner of the Offender Details page. 

22. Who should I contact if I think an offender is in violation of the Sex Offenders Registration Act?
If you think an offender is in violation of his registration requirements, you should contact the local law enforcement agency where the offender is actually residing.


23. Are there websites similar to the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry where I can access information regarding registered sex offenders in other states?
Yes. Some states have Internet sites listing registered sex offenders within their state. A list of websites by state can be found at: https://www.nsopw.gov/en/registry/.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice established the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website at https://www.nsopw.gov. This site allows citizens to search the sex offender registries of participating states.

Change the music on your Michigan Drunk Driving case

10/24/2021

 
When charged with a crime in Michigan, you're left standing in the middle of a dance floor with the police, judge, prosecutor, probation and your friends and family staring at you with their arms crossed.  They might be in shock at the crime you committed, and you're being judged on the drunk driving incident, and only that incident.  To be judged on the four corners of the police report leaves you with no place to go.  

What dance move could you pull off to get the heat off your back, and to change the perception of yourself post-incident? That's a huge challenge, and very difficult.  But what if there was another way?

What if we simply changed the song? That's exactly what I do for my clients who are charged with drunk driving in Michigan.  We adopt a proactive approach and lead with empathy, and a growth mindset. 

Charged with Reckless Driving in Wayne County? Will I Lose My License

9/4/2021

 
​Reckless Driving
To found guilty of this offense, the prosecution must show that you were driving a car on a road open to the public or generally accessible to cars, including a parking lot, and you drove the car in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.  "Willful or wanton disregard" means more than simple carelessness but does not require proof of an intent to cause harm. It means knowingly disregarding the possible risks to the safety of people or property.

This offense is a 90-day misdemeanor and carries many of the same license implications, fines and costs of a drunk driving offense.  If convicted of this offense, six points would be added to your license.

The prosecution will attempt to prove this charge with testimony of your driving including speed, along with the the road conditions.  If there is evidence of intoxication, the prosecution will be allowed to introduce this evidence; the jury may factor this into the decision whether there was a "willful or wanton disregard" for the safety or persons or property, but this alone is not enough for a conviction.

One way to defeat a reckless driving charge is to show an error in judgment on the part of the charged driver to explain the erratic driving,  which creates reasonable doubt as "willful or wanton disregard".  Let's say you're observed switching lanes, which causes an accident, and you're charged with reckless driving - well if the other car was in your blind spot, then this may be merely negligence on your part, not willful disregard.

Arrested for Drunk Driving in Plymouth Michigan, What Should I Do?

9/3/2021

 

Plymouth 35th District Court DUI

As a former DUI prosecutor, I worked on 1000's of cases; the main piece of evidence was typically a chemical test, which was either a blood draw or a breath sample. In Michigan, the breath sample is collected with the Datamaster machine. Under Michigan law, the trier of fact is allowed to assume that the blood alcohol content result collected via chemical test was the same as when the driver was operating the vehicle.

As a former prosecutor my favorite lines were "over the legal limit" "more than double the legal limit" "he/she failed the test". I would push and push that chemical test being over the legal limit - what else was there to consider, the person was guilty! Anything that silly defense lawyer tells you is just smoke and mirrors - there was a test, and they failed it, end of story, find them guilty.

Many prosecutors try to over-complicate the issue and act as if they need to defend the chemical test number - the more complicated you make it, the less a jury focuses on the "failed test" concept. As a prosecutor, I did the very opposite - make it as simple as possible - juries don't want to think too much, and if you spend so much time defending something, they lose confidence in the issue and question the reliability of the evidence.

As a former prosecutor I had a different view of the blood vs breath results. In my experience, a blood test is considered to be more reliable by the "criminal law community", because well it's tested at the Michigan State Police lab, and there's supposedly less variables that can impact the result, because it is coming directly from your body. The person testifying about the result (lab tech) is also supposedly more knowledgeable and a better witness than a police officer who does the Datamaster machine.

Both prosecutors and defense lawyers tend to give the blood result more weight and if it's over the legal limit for an OWI (0.08) or Super Drunk (0.17) then there's less incentive to challenge it. I completely disagree with this perception, and bring this mindset to my criminal defense practice. Here's why:

1. In Michigan, let's say the police stop my client at 2 am. A Datamaster result would usually happen within the hour of this traffic stop, and makes for a better argument when you're telling a jury to believe the BAC level is the same as when the person was driving the car. A blood test in contrast happens hours later at the hospital, or you have to wait for someone to come to the jail to draw the blood. Typically double or triple the time goes by - a good defense lawyer will jump on that argument.

2. Once the blood is drawn, it's supposed to be sealed in a tube for testing, but that sealed tube sits around and is transported to the lab over the course of a few days. Just picture that sealed blood sample bouncing around the mail truck as it heads to Lansing in an uncontrolled environment. Throw in freezing temperatures of winter or 95 degrees in August, and that sample is compromised. The best is when the lab tech brags about the sample being stored in a controlled environment prior to testing (but after bouncing around the mail truck in 95 degree weather for 3 days) - all I have to say is REASONABLE DOUBT.

3. It's a pain to get the lab tech to come to court to testify and limits your flexibility to set the case for trial. It's so much easier to have the police officer available to come in and testify.

​Sure a Datamaster has it's faults, but cops are trained not to know enough to be challenged. They have a procedure and if they follow it, that's it. They are not required to know how the machine works or why it does X, Y and Z but rather to follow steps. If the jury likes the cop and they believe he followed the steps then they will probably buy into the result and not find reasonable doubt. There's also usually two tests (not required), but the second result can confirm the first result vs a single blood test result.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I find that prosecutors are more confident in the blood draw, but at trial those are easier to challenge. And the goal is not to show the test is wrong, faulty or an error, but rather just raise enough doubt to get a not-guilty verdict, and the door is wide open on the blood test.

With the Datamaster, I am looking for numbers close to the limits of 0.08 and 0.17 as there are built in margins of error listed in the training manual for the operator. I am also looking for a police officer who is going to be chatty and give me open windows. Officers are trained not to discuss how the machine works or WHAT IF's but human nature makes most officers answer questions and be open to possibilities. If the officer answers YES IT"S POSSIBLE to enough questions then that's my reasonable doubt. After all it's a machine and the person pressing the buttons doesn't know how it works, why should be believe the result?

What is the best way to handle a DUI in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
There is no best way, each client will make that determination for themselves.  The video below is how my clients approach DUI cases with great success; I look forward to hearing about your case and how my plan could work for you.

Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458
​

What happens if I pay for the items I stole - Shoplifting Retail Fraud Michigan

9/2/2021

 
A very common question about retail fraud in Michigan; once you commit the crime, or the store thinks you have, there is no curing the crime by paying after the fact.  Even if you believe its a mix-up, you may, and likely will still be charged with shoplifting.  It's time to get all the facts and work toward potentially having your case dismissed. 

Will I go to jail for shoplifting retail fraud in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
Yes, you can certainly go to jail.  For a misdemeanor its either 93 days or one year, and more for a felony.  Is that the likely outcome? Potentially not, here is a helpful video on how I approach retail fraud cases in Michigan

Can retail fraud shoplifting be dismissed or expunged in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
Absolutely! But you need a path and a plan to get there.  ​Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458

Does shoplifting retail fraud go on your record in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 

Retail Fraud Attorney Michigan

Yes, retail fraud is either a misdemeanor or a felony, and would go on your record if you simply plead guilty.  If you're seeking a different result than retail fraud on your record, I have a solution for you. 

Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458

What's the difference between retail fraud and shoplifting in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
There is no difference in Michigan; there is no such offense as shoplifting in Michigan; the crime is either labeled as retail fraud or larceny, and has different degrees, and could be a felony or misdemeanor.  

​Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458

How to get retail fraud off my record in Michigan

9/2/2021

 
Charged with retail fraud, and ready to take action to keep it from going on your record?

​Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458

How do I get off probation early in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
​Tired of probation? Ready to move on and get your life back, here's the secret to getting off probation early in Michigan.

Livingston County Criminal Attorney - Jonathan Paul

9/2/2021

 
​If you are charged with a Michigan misdemeanor offense in Howell, Brighton or any other part of Livingston County, your case will be heard at the 53rd District, which has two locations at 204 S. Highlander Way Howell, MI 48843 and 224 N. First Street Brighton, MI 48116.

If you are charged with a Michigan felony offense in Livingston County your case will begin at the 53rd District Court  for preliminary examination then proceed to the Livingston County Circuit Court for trial.

The most common offenses in in this court are domestic violence, retail fraud, drug offenses, assault crimes, resisting arrest, traffic tickets, careless and reckless driving, mdop, embezzlement, csc offenses and DUI's ​

The presiding judges in Livingston County are Daniel Bain, Shauna Murphy, Suzanne Geddis and Michael P. Hatty. The prosecuting attorney in Livingston County is David Reader, who is the elected official in charge of the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office.

The two things you should never tell a police officer when arrested for a DUI in Michigan

9/2/2021

 
1. What was the conversation like with the police officer? Some interactions begin with a calm and polite inquiry by a police officer, and some start off as an immediate interrogation.  The officer may ask for your driver’s license and registration, and inquire to your whereabouts prior to this conversation.  You have a right not to speak to the police officer, but most people will cooperate and provide some information.

2. What did you tell the police about driving? This seems like an odd question, but in a case where you’re not observed driving a vehicle by a witness, the prosecutor may have difficult proving that you were driving, which is one of the two elements of Michigan drunk driving cases.  This could be the case if you’re observed outside of a car, after a traffic accident or you’re found parked on the side of the road.  If you make a statement about driving the car then it may make the prosecutor’s case a lot easier to prove.

3. Did you tell the police you consumed alcohol? While a police officer is trained to detect consumption of alcohol, and you may take tests that show you consumed alcohol, your own statements about alcohol could be important evidence.  There’s a big difference between telling a police officer you drank a beer an hour ago, versus you just polished off ten beers at the pub. Believe it not, recent consumption of alcohol could be more favorable for your case.

The First 3 Questions that Any DUI Attorney Should Ask Their Client

9/2/2021

 
​1. Tell me where you were before being approached by the police? Most clients are somewhere consuming alcohol.  This could be your home, a bar, restaurant, party or another venue.  This information will give your attorney a starting point in determining your alcohol consumption and time frame, which the alcohol was consumed.

2. What were you drinking, and how much? Drinking beer, wine or liquor makes a difference, and of course the amount of alcohol you consumed.  You may not remember exact amounts, but even a good guess or estimation will give your attorney a lot of valuable information to assess your case.

3. When and how long ago did you consume alcohol prior to being approached by the police? I always use this example with clients.  If you’re stone cold sober, and you do a quick shot of alcohol, and jump behind the wheel, your blood alcohol content is going to be at 0.00 for a short period of time.  Only after some time passes, will your body absorb the alcohol, and you will register a blood alcohol content.  This important information will allow your attorney to compare the test results to what you actually consumed.

Are the cops coming to my house to arrest me in Oakland County Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
Q. Will the police come to my house and arrest me? If you've been charged with a crime in Michigan, the police can come arrest you based upon an an active arrest warrant.  For felony offenses in Michigan, the police will most likely come arrest you, unless your attorney can arrange to have a walk-in arraignment to avoid an embarrassing arrest.  If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you will receive a notice in the mail to appear for court, and will most likely not be arrested prior to this court date.  The problem with even a misdemeanor is you may not have notice of the case, and failure to respond who trigger the police coming to your home, even for a misdemeanor offense.

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The two most important questions when charged with a crime in Oakland County

9/2/2021

 
​Q. What's an arraignment? This will be your first court appearance where you appear before a magistrate or judge in Oakland County.  You do not have the right to an attorney at this point in your case; you must hire an attorney to be represented at your arraignment.  The magistrate or judge will read the charges and you will enter a plea of not-guilty, guilty or stand mute.  The magistrate or judge will also set a bond, along with various bond conditions.  I would advise anyone charged with a crime to hire an attorney for an arraignment.  

Q. If the judge sets a bond in my case, how do I pay? A judge can set a personal recognizance bond, which means you simply promise to return to court, but don't post any money.  A judge may also set a cash or surety bond, which means you will need to post this amount to be released during the pendency of your case.  If the judge sets a 10 percent provision, it means you only need to actually post 10 percent of the amount set, and the other 90 percent will be owed to the court if you do not show-up.  It is always best to bring someone to post bond for you, because some courts will not allow a defendant to post their own bond.  

Will a DUI expungement show up on my criminal record in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
Simply, YES! If a judge agrees to expunge your drunk driving, the conviction will be removed from you record.  

​Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458

How soon can my DUI be expunged in Michigan?

9/2/2021

 
The first DUI expungement in Michigan will happen in February of 2022.  

Do you really want to be standing in line with potentially a million other people trying to expunge their drunk driving? No.

There is a lot of legwork that is required before creating the optimal drunk driving expungement application; various agencies in Michigan must be put on notice and have an opportunity to respond.

On top of that, my expungement clients are going to be multiple value bomb assets into their application, all which will take a bit to get done.  We need to answer the question of rehabilitation and progress since your offense; we have a lot of work to do.

Don't wait until February; be prepared and ready to go!

Watch the video below, and send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or call me 248-924-9458

Arrested in Wayne County - Attorney Jonathan Paul

9/1/2021

 
1. Its time to take a deep breath; you've just been ticketed or released from jail; you're on the internet looking for a solution.  It's time to do your research on what you're charged with; be educated, learn the penalties and consequences, and what is required to convict you of the offense.

2. Take some time to write down your thoughts about what happened; be honest with yourself; did you break the law? Was there a misunderstanding? Denying you did something that you did does not work; if you broke the law, own it at least to yourself for now.  You're going to drive yourself mad trying to defend something that you actually did; it's a mouse trap that is going to get you every time.

3. Here's the good news; it's ok to be guilty and still get a fantastic result; an outcome where you leave the case with potentially no criminal record in the long-run; you can avoid jail, keep your license, your job etc.

4. Decide if you want to lead with empathy and tell your story; if true, I am happy to share my approach; it will take too much time to type here, but  I will share that with you.

5. Set goals; realistic goals.  A realistic goal is not "I want this to go away with an apology"; that doesn't happen.  Let's be realistic; you were arrested, and you're charged with a crime, how do we get to A to Z and hit your goals.  

What should I do if ticketed for UIP in Ann Arbor Michigan

9/1/2021

 
I have represented 100's of students and Michigan fans who are ticketed on gameday weekends for various offenses, here ae the five most important steps to take once ticketed:

1. Take a deep breath; there is nothing you can do in the moment, go enjoy the game; its if late at night, go to bed.  If you wish to take touch with an attorney, send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or text/call me 248-924-9458.  You can send me a copy of the ticket; get that off your plate.

2. Once you regroup that evening or the next day, you will see a text reply or email reply letting you know that your case is manageable and everything is going to be OK.  You are where 100's of my clients have been in the past, and every single one of them had a favorable result if they followed my plan.

3.  In the coming days, I will give you a few proactive steps to take on your own time to improve your case, and help me help you figure out a great outcome.

4.  Our goal is to keep you from having a criminal record; that is a possible; it's also possible to have you excused from court, or to join court via zoom. 

5. This case does not need to have long-term consequences on your life; you're successful, and having a criminal record over an isolated moment in time is not equitable.  Believe in common sense; lean in on telling your story; this case will not define you.  

What to do if ticketed for a Fake ID in Ann Arbor Michigan

9/1/2021

 
I have represented 100's of students and Michigan fans who are ticketed on gameday for various offenses, here are the five most important steps to take once ticketed:

1. Take a deep breath; there is nothing you can do in the moment, go enjoy the game or the rest of your night; if its late at night, go to bed .  If you wish to take touch with an attorney, send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or text/call me 248-924-9458.  You can send me a copy of the ticket; get that off your plate.

2. Once you regroup that evening or the next day, you will see a text reply or email reply letting you know that your case is manageable and everything is going to be OK.  You are where 100's of my clients have been in the past, and every single one of them had a favorable result if they followed my plan.

3.  In the coming days, I will give you a few proactive steps to take on your own time to improve your case, and help me help you figure out a great outcome.

4.  Our goal is to keep you from having a criminal record; that is a possible; it's also possible to have you excused from court, or to join court via zoom. 

5. This case does not need to have long-term consequences on your life; you're successful, and having a criminal record over an isolated moment in time is not equitable.  Believe in common sense; lean in on telling your story; this case will not define you.  ​

What to do when ticketed for an open container in Ann Arbor during a football tailgate?

9/1/2021

 
I have represented 100's of students and Michigan fans who are ticketed on gameday for various offenses, here are the five most important steps to take once ticketed:

1. Take a deep breath; there is nothing you can do in the moment, go enjoy the game.  If you wish to take touch with an attorney, send me an email jonathan@michiganlawgrad.com or text/call me 248-924-9458.  You can send me a copy of the ticket; get that off your plate.

2. Once you regroup that evening or the next day, you will see a text reply or email reply letting you know that your case is manageable and everything is going to be OK.  You are where 100's of my clients have been in the past, and every single one of them had a favorable result if they followed my plan.

3.  In the coming days, I will give you a few proactive steps to take on your own time to improve your case, and help me help you figure out a great outcome.

4.  Our goal is to keep you from having a criminal record; that is a possible; it's also possible to have you excused from court, or to join court via zoom. 

5. This case does not need to have long-term consequences on your life; you're successful, and having a criminal record over an isolated moment in time is not equitable.  Believe in common sense; lean in on telling your story; this case will not define you.  

Can a Michigan DUI expungement be denied?

9/1/2021

 
Absolutely, and I expect many DUI's to be denied, because a judge is ordered to evaluate if you learned from the original case and if your rehabilitative measures worked; a lot of people are going to struggle to show this improvement and give the judge enough confidence to expunge your record. 

Why is a Michigan DUI expungement important for your life?

9/1/2021

 
Once convicted of drunk driving in Michigan, the conviction will sit on your record like a stain that won't go away; you've survived, but you haven't thrived.  Expunging your DUI will give you a clean slate, a fresh start; it will remove the public criminal conviction from your record.  
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    - The Michigan Retrograde Extrapolation Guide

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    - Drunk Driving Consults

    - The One Question Your Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Should not be Able to Answer

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    - Michigan Police Confessions 101

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    - FAQ: Shoplifting in Michigan

    - Michigan HYTA Eligibility

    - Can I be on probation while    away at college?

    - What is a Deferred Judgment of Guilt?

    - Michigan CDL Alcohol Penalties 

    - Ann Arbor Arrested for Fake ID, Urinating in Public, Minor in Possession, Open Container

    - Should I Admit to Drinking Alcohol?

    - Arrested for Minor in Possession in Ann Arbor?

    - Michigan DUI Probation Violation Hearings

    - How To: Claiming Self Defense at Trial 

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    - Am I eligible for expungement with two convictions?
Representing clients in Ann Arbor, Canton, Brighton, Howell, Saline, Adrian, Taylor, Plymouth, Northville, Westland, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Towsnhip, Warren, Sterling Heights, Farmington, Pontiac, Romulus, Lansing, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Troy, Rochester, Jackson, East Lansing, Garden City, Livonia, Dearborn, Detroit, St Clair Shores, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Madison Heights, Waterford, Milford, Shelby Township Clarkston, Oak Park, Berkley, Fraser, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township and others throughout Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe, Jackson,  Macomb, Ingham, Lenawee, Livingston, Oakland County & Northern Michigan 

Representing clients faced with DUI/drunk driving, retail fraud, possession of marijuana, domestic violence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, fake ID, open container  and other misdemeanor and felony charges. 

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Michigan Defense Attorney Jonathan Paul - Former New York & Michigan Prosecutor