Attorney General Dana Nessel announces staffing promotions

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel late last month announced Danielle Hagaman-Clark has been appointed the new chief of the Criminal Justice Bureau, and Kimberly Bush has been named the director of the Department’s Office of Public Information and Education.

“I am grateful to have such dedicated and talented individuals leading key aspects of the Department of Attorney General,” Nessel said. “I know Danielle and Kim will be continued assets to this office in their respective roles.”   

Currently serving as the head of the Department of Attorney General’s Criminal Trials and Appeals Division, Hagaman-Clark has many years of experience in criminal law and has honed her prosecutorial skills during her 15 years as a prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. During that time, she was a founding member and Lead Attorney of the office’s Sexual Assault Team as well as Lead Attorney for the Wayne County Homicide Unit.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our Criminal Justice Bureau continues to do and know it will be in excellent hands with Danielle at the helm,” Nessel said. “Danielle is recognized as a well-respected prosecutor across the state and across the legal community, but most importantly for her commitment to victim’s rights and managing each case with a trauma-informed approach.”

At the 2018 End Violence Against Women International Conference, Hagaman-Clark presented training on trauma-informed adult learning for prosecutors, and as the Violence Against Women Act Director for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM), she worked collaboratively to develop and provide training programs on issues of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking for prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and other service providers.

Hagaman-Clark has spent the bulk of her career as a staunch advocate for sexual assault victims and has made training others to do the same a priority in her professional development. She was a presenting participant on a panel discussion on law enforcement best practices for sexual assault investigations; she has helped develop the curriculum on non-stranger, adult sexual assault for the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards; and she was responsible for updating and editing the PAAM Sexual Assault Trial Manual, which is an invaluable guide for Michigan prosecutors seeking technical assistance on common trial techniques used during sexual assault prosecutions.

Hagaman-Clark also spoken and lectured on domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking for advisory councils, committees, and other boards and entities, and has conducted significant outreach to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner programs.

Arriving at the Department of Attorney General in 2019, Hagaman-Clark was promoted to division head a year later.

As the new Criminal Justice Bureau chief, she will oversee the Criminal Trials and Appeals, Criminal Investigations, Financial Crimes, and Health Care Fraud divisions. She will supervise the 4 divisions as they investigate and prosecute a broad array of criminal matters, with a particular emphasis on public corruption, cold case homicides, hate crimes, insurance fraud, human trafficking, sex crimes, casino-related crimes, elder financial exploitation, and crimes that cross county lines.

Hagaman-Clark received her law degree from the University of Detroit, Mercy after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice.

Bush joined the department in 2022 as the department manager and handled internal/external outreach, coordinating visits for the Attorney General across the state and with local organizations, communities and schools.

“Since joining the department, Kim has focused keenly on keeping both the public and the media educated on our work,” said Nessel. “Kim has served the public well in planning educational events throughout the state and safeguarding the interests of information accessibility for all. I have full faith Kim will maintain that excellent standard of communication from our office while raising awareness of how department initiatives support the rights and protections of all Michigan residents.”

A 2003 graduate from Adrian College, she studied Political Science and Communications before working on numerous political and voter registration campaigns, including Rock the Vote, and for the Wayne County Commission. Bush has also worked in marketing, public relations and sales for several metro-Detroit businesses.