Spring 2024 County Prosecutors

Q2b. Overall, do you believe the size of the support staff workforce in your Prosecutor’s Office is sufficient to cover your workload?

Q13e.   Different types of crime are more prevalent in some communities than in others and may constitute different threats to public safety. To what extent would you say   public-order offenses (e.g., DUI, weapons violations, disorderly conduct, traffic violations, etc.)     are currently (or have recently been) problems in your county?

Q3e. How much of a problem, if at all, are negative interactions with defense counsel for your office?

Q8a.   If new county, state, or federal funding became available to your office, would increasing pay and benefits for current Assistant Prosecutors be a priority for allocation?

Q14c.   To what extent do you agree or disagree that you're concerned that a major incident of civil unrest connected to police use of force could happen in your county in the near future?

Q8j.   If new county, state, or federal funding became available to your office, would other issues be a priority for allocation?

Q10a.  Public defenders and appointed counsel are receiving increased resources under new standards passed by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). To what extent do you agree or disagree that with these recent increases in resources for indigent defense defendants will receive better legal representation  ?

Q18a.    Regardless of whether you support or oppose changes to current cash bail policies, how effective do you think cash bail is at reducing no-shows?

Q20f. Which of the following types of diversion programs, if any, are currently operating in your county? (check all that apply)

f. Don’t know 

Q31d.   How much would you personally trust the results of using automated tools (such as AI and machine learning) for processing and analyzing forensic evidence?

Q21c.   Regardless of whether or not your county has pre-trial diversion programs, do you feel the use of pre-trial diversion programs in general helps or harms prosecutors' workload?   

Q8f. If new county, state, or federal funding became available to your office, would victim advocacy be a priority for allocation?

Q34a.   To what extent, if any, would you say that dedicating the necessary personnel to manage data  is a problem that your office faces, or will face, in its collection and use of performance data?

Q24c.   The Michigan Legislature recently enacted an "Extreme Risk Protection Order Act" — sometimes referred to as a “red flag” law. This law provides for the issuance of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which temporarily prohibit individuals judged to be at high risk of harming themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms. The law allows several different categories of people, including family members, mental health professionals, and law enforcement officers, to file an ERPO petition.

Q35c.     Regardless of whether your office currently shares summary statistics and other performance data, do you support or oppose requiring prosecutors to publicly disclose diversion opportunities?

Q26d.    When residents in your county are voting for Prosecutor, how important do you think pursuing maximum penalties for offenses  is to voters?

Q37c.    In general, in cases where there is evidence of misconduct by a sheriff’s deputy or police officer in your county, do you think  the U.S. Attorney's Office should prosecute the offense?

Q27a.     To what extent does your office make use of police video data (e.g., dashboard and body cameras)?

Q40a.   In general, how much do you trust other Michigan Prosecutors on law enforcement strategies and practice? 

Q40d.   In general, how much do you trust National law enforcement associations (e.g., National Police Association, National District Attorneys Association) on law enforcement strategies and practice? 

Q3c. How much of a problem, if at all, is office morale  for your office?

Q13b.   Different types of crime are more prevalent in some communities than in others and may constitute different threats to public safety. To what extent would you say domestic violence/intimate partner violence   is currently (or has recently been) a problem in your county?

Q8d.   If new county, state, or federal funding became available to your office, would hiring new support staff be a priority for allocation?

Q11.   Some people believe the State of Michigan should transition both the Courts and the Public Defenders to a regional system funded and operated by the State. Others prefer the county-based system. If the State were to take full responsibility for funding of Prosecutor’s Offices from the counties, would you support transitioning to a regional system (i.e., a District Attorney system)?

Q15b.   Now, overall, how would you describe the relationship today between your office and the County Sheriff's Office?   

Q4a.  If additional resources were available, do you think increasing pay rates would be effective in helping your office recruit additional personnel and/or retain current personnel?

Q28d.   Now thinking about the resources required to process and review digital evidence and to use it effectively in prosecutions, to what extent do you feel presenting digital evidence in court is a problem, or not, for your office?

Q17a.     Next, thinking about court costs and fees, would you, in your role as Prosecutor, support or oppose limiting the use of fines and fees in sentencing to those who are able to pay, and community service or other alternatives for those who are unable to pay?

Q20c. Which of the following types of diversion programs, if any, are currently operating in your county? (check all that apply)

c. Veterans court 

Q32b.    Does your office share summary statistics and other performance data on prosecutions with residents in your county?