Michigan's Attorney General, counties and government work together to resolve open sex crime cases

Rick Pluta

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Michigan Public Radio Network

Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in Michigan have joined forces to catch suspects alleged to have committed some of the most serious sex crimes.

The first targets of Operation Survivor Justice are about 800 suspects with outstanding warrants who have missed bail and have never been in court for their alleged crimes. Funding from the state will help local law enforcement track down suspects who may be living in other states or other countries and file extradition requests if necessary. The U.S. Marshals Service will help locate and arrest the suspects, which would represent a significant cost savings for counties compared to hiring a private contractor.

The costs and staffing are so high that smaller jurisdictions in particular cannot manage it without diverting money from other important needs. The first tranche of funding comes from a $1 million allocation in the new state budget.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the focus is on serious sex crimes because of the impact on victims.

“Their perpetrator is known and yet they fled, and it's so hard for these people to move on and even find closure,” she said. “That's not the case with every sex offender, but I would say that it's the case with many, that those who are not held accountable probably have more victims.”

Kalamazoo County Attorney Jeffrey Getting, who is also president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, said some of the cases are 40 years old.

“These are real people who have been victims of horrific crimes and now have more hope, hope for justice and the knowledge that the people who harmed them will be held accountable and face consequences,” he said.

The money is not intended to reopen investigations or resolve unsolved cases. Nessel said these are cases that could be brought to court if the suspects are caught.