Legal and Policy Resources for Advocates and Criminal Justice Professionals

The staff at the Michigan Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Assault recently compiled the following statutes. The statutes are current as of August 2007. The reader is responsible for checking the current statute. In addition, readers should be aware that statutes might be affected by subsequent court rules, rules of evidence or case law. The following laws were compiled using the Michigan Legislature Website. To ensure the accuracy of the statutes contained within this document or to get the full text of a statute not listed, please visit the Michigan Legislature.

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, PA 250 of 1982

Child Custody Act, PA 91 of 1970

Child Protection Law, PA 238 of 1975

Crime Victim's Rights Act, PA 87 of 1985

Domestic Violence

Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, PA 453 of 1976

Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board Enabling Legislation

Nonprofit Corporation Act, PA 162 of 1982

Personal Protection Orders

Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, PA 220 of 1976

Sex Offender Registry Act, PA 295 of 1994

Sexual Assault

Stalking Statutes, MCL 28.422 et al

Combined Statutes (all of the above statutes in one document)

Information includes: Bill status (searchable by bill number, sponsor, or category); Resolution status (searchable by resolution number and sponsor); Introduced bills and joint resolutions; Bills passed by the house and senate; Enrolled bills and joint resolutions; Daily journals; and Daily calendars. In February of 1999 the Michigan Compiled Law also became available on this site.

How citizens can contact state government officials, how to petition and advocate, how Michigan government is organized. 2007-2008 Legislative Session, Updated June 2007


Provides a general and very brief description of the major steps of the legislative process a bill must go through before it is enacted into law.


The Domestic Violence Benchbook is an integrated resource that addresses Michigan law governing domestic violence in the three courtroom contexts where it is most likely to be at issue: personal protection proceedings, criminal proceedings and divorce and child custody proceedings.

The Sexual Assault Benchbook is a comprehensive sourcebook for information on the impact of the crime on victims, Michigan's sexual assault related statutes, including applicable defenses, special courtroom procedures that protect the rights of victims, witnesses, and defendants, scientific evidence, post-conviction and sentencing matters, and bond and discovery.

The Crime Victim Rights Manual provides information about the Crime Victim's Rights Act and other statutes protecting crime victims, the safety, confidentiality, financial, and other personal/psychological concerns of crime victims, and community resources that can assist crime victims with concerns relating to the crime.

Friend of the Court Domestic Violence Resource Book is intended to assist Friend of the Court staff in handling domestic relations cases where domestic violence is involved.


American Prosecutors Research Institute

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

National Network to End Domestic Violence

Legal Momentum - Advancing Women's Rights (formerly NOW LDEF)

THOMAS and Federal Laws On Line

The Violence Policy Center


Michigan Attorney General

Michigan Crime Victims Website

Michigan Electronic Library

Michigan Department of Human Services

Michigan House of Representatives

Library of Michigan

Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board

Office of the Governor

Michigan Senate

Sexual Assault Surveillance System

Michigan State Police

Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan Women’s Commission

Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan

Michigan Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council


Centers for Disease Control

United States Department of Justice

Health and Human Services

United States House of Representatives

National Criminal Justice Reference Center

Library of Congress

Office for Victims of Crime

Office of Justice Programs

National Center for Victims of Crime

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

United States Senate

Supreme Court of the United States

Violence Against Women Grants Office

National Center for State Courts

White House