Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on April 10 new and ongoing efforts by the Department of Attorney General to assist sexual assault survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The department is working to help victims obtain justice and closure through a range of programs, including clearing untested sexual assault kits, investigating clergy abuse, extraditing fugitives with outstanding warrants, and prosecuting additional cases.
These actions are part of a broader commitment to prioritize victims’ needs within Michigan’s legal system. “Sexual assault survivors have long felt forgotten by the very legal system meant to protect them,” Nessel said. “As Attorney General, I have prioritized a victim-centered approach and ensured it is at the heart of everything we do. From tracking down fugitives trying to outrun accountability to documenting the stories of clergy abuse survivors, our focus has been and will always be pursuing justice and supporting victims. We will continue to amplify their voices and foster an environment where they feel heard and believed.”
In 2024, Operation Survivor Justice was launched as a partnership between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The initiative aims to locate fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants; so far it has reviewed over 100 cases across several counties and extradited more than 75 fugitives back to Michigan for prosecution.
The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), established in 2016, allows for comprehensive re-investigation of cases involving previously untested evidence kits in counties such as Kalamazoo, Ingham, Washtenaw, Jackson, and Wayne. Over 600 cases have been handled through SAKI projects statewide with more than 50 convictions secured.
The department also released reports on allegations within multiple Catholic dioceses throughout Michigan while issuing criminal charges in eleven related cases resulting in nine convictions affecting dozens of survivors. Other recent initiatives include launching an Address Confidentiality Program—currently protecting over six hundred individuals—and introducing an online Crime Victim Rights webpage providing guidance on legal processes after reporting crimes.
According to the official website, the Michigan Department of Attorney General advances social efforts through actions against human trafficking and support for vulnerable populations according to the official website. The department focuses on serving residents through public service initiatives according to its official website.
Dana Nessel serves as Michigan’s fifty-fourth attorney general according to its official website, leading efforts that safeguard residents statewide as reported by its official site. The department influenced policy by drafting laws such as Clean Slate for expungement opportunities according to its official site.
Looking ahead this year, reports regarding additional dioceses are expected while current programs continue expanding outreach for crime victims seeking resources or protection.