Macomb County prosecutor praises performance of warrant unit

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Warrant Unit is processing warrant requests for adult suspects more efficiently than ever, according to Prosecutor Peter Lucido, with the number of pending requests awaiting review reduced to unprecedented lows.

As of mid-day Monday, the office had only two pending out-of-custody warrant requests for adults to be reviewed in the general warrant unit, Lucido said.

The unit focuses on cases involving charges that range from misdemeanors such as driving on a suspended license, to felonies such as carrying a concealed weapon, arson, assault with intent to murder, or armed robbery.  

“Our team is reviewing and processing warrant requests more quickly than this office ever has,” Lucido said. “This helps crime victims, the public and the accused get justice more effectively.”

He said the unit has “embraced new technology and remains committed to upholding public safety and maintaining transparency.”

The unit, composed of three assistant prosecuting attorneys and three support staff, handles warrant requests for adult cases not assigned to a specialty unit ranging from misdemeanors punishable by up to 93 days in jail to felony life offenses such as assault with intent to murder and armed robbery. 

The unit’s assistant prosecutors also assist speciality units in reviewing domestic violence warrants and drug unit warrants when needed. 

New technology includes a warrant portal and digital evidence platform that has enabled the unit to process warrant requests paperlessly, quickly review body camera footage and other digital evidence, and provide timely information to crime victims with greater efficiency Lucido said.

From January through August 2024, law enforcement agencies referred 10,256 warrant requests to the Macomb County Prosecutor, of which 8,540 cases were charged, and 1,656 cases were denied.  

The 2024 numbers are on track to meet or exceed last year, the prosecutor said.

There has been an upward trend in warrant requests, he added.

In 2023, the office received 13,427 warrant request referrals from police agencies, 12,101 in 2022, 10,998 in 2021, 10,094 in 2020, and 12,509 referrals in 2019.

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