Bill Text: MI SB0914 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Criminal procedure: other; certain requirements for the use of informants in criminal proceedings; provide for. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1 - 777.69) by adding secs. 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f & 36g to ch. VIII.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-12 - Referred To Committee On Civil Rights, Judiciary, And Public Safety [SB0914 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-SB0914-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 914
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled
"The code of criminal procedure,"
(MCL 760.1 to 777.69) by adding sections 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, and 36g to chapter VIII.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 36a. As used in this section and sections 36b to 36g of this chapter:
(a) "Benefit" means any plea bargain, bail consideration, reduction or modification of sentence, or any other leniency, immunity, financial payment, reward, or amelioration of current or future conditions of incarceration in return for, or in connection with, an in-custody informant's participation in any information-gathering activity, investigation, or operation, or in return for, or in connection with, the in-custody informant's testimony in a criminal proceeding in which the prosecuting attorney intends to call the in-custody informant as a witness.
(b) "In-custody informant" means an individual, other than a codefendant, percipient witness, accomplice, or co-conspirator, who provides testimony or information for use in the investigation or prosecution of a defendant based upon statements made by the defendant under 1 of the following circumstances:
(i) While the defendant and the in-custody informant were housed in the same correctional facility, county jail, local lockup, or other custodial facility, regardless of location.
(ii) While the defendant and the in-custody informant were not in custody and in the same location, and the in-custody informant is subsequently housed in a correctional facility, county jail, local lockup, or other custodial facility, regardless of location, because of the in-custody informants own charges.
(c) "Official" means an individual acting on behalf of the government during an investigation or prosecution of a misdemeanor or felony, including, but not limited to, a prosecuting attorney or a law enforcement officer.
(d) "Prosecuting attorney's office" includes the office of a county prosecuting attorney and the department of the attorney general.
Sec. 36b. (1) Each prosecuting attorney's office shall track and, as provided under subsection (2), submit a record of the following information:
(a) The use of testimony or information provided to the prosecuting attorney's office by an in-custody informant against a defendant's interest.
(b) Any benefit offered or provided to an in-custody informant in exchange for testimony or information about a defendant.
(2) Each county prosecuting attorney's office shall provide the information described under subsection (1) to the department of corrections and the department of state police. If a prosecuting attorney's office fails to provide the information described under subsection (1), the information is precluded from use in criminal prosecution until the prosecuting attorney's office complies with this section.
(3) The department of corrections and the department of state police shall maintain a statewide record of the information collected under subsection (1).
(4) The information collected under subsection (1) is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
Sec. 36c. A prosecuting attorney shall disclose to the defense, during the course of discovery, no later than 21 days before trial or any pretrial hearing at which the in-custody informant's statements or testimony will be introduced, any information in the possession, custody, or control of the prosecution that is relevant to an in-custody informant's credibility, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) A benefit that any official has extended or will extend in the future to the in-custody informant. This includes, but is not limited to, a cooperation agreement with any official.
(b) The substance, time, and place of any statement allegedly given by the defendant to the in-custody informant.
(c) The substance, time, and place of any statement given by the in-custody informant to any official implicating the defendant in the crime charged.
(d) The complete criminal history of the in-custody informant.
(e) If the in-custody informant has previously testified or provided information in exchange for a benefit, all other cases in which the in-custody informant has done so, the content of the statements and testimony of the in-custody informant in those cases, and the specific benefit previously offered or received.
(f) Whether or not the in-custody informant modified or recanted the in-custody informant's testimony at any time and, if so, the time and place of the recantation or modification, the nature of the recantation or modification, and the name of any individual present at the recantation or modification.
Sec. 36d. A prosecuting attorney shall disclose no later than 21 days before trial or any pretrial hearing at which the in-custody informant's statements or testimony will be introduced the prosecution's intent to introduce the testimony of an in-custody informant. The same procedure for introducing the testimony of other fact witnesses that are applicable in this state applies to an in-custody informant's testimony.
Sec. 36e. If an in-custody informant testifies, the prosecuting attorney or defense counsel may elicit the information described under section 36c of this chapter during direct or cross-examination, respectively. If a written statement from the in-custody informant is admitted for any reason, including, but not limited to, the unavailability of the in-custody informant, the information described under section 36c of this chapter must be included with the written statement.
Sec. 36f. If an in-custody informant receives a benefit related to a pending charge, a conviction, or a sentence in connection with offering or providing testimony against a defendant, the prosecuting attorney shall notify any victim in the in-custody informant's case of the benefit in a timely manner.
Sec. 36g. If the in-custody informant's testimony is admitted into evidence, a cautionary instruction must be provided to the jury. The jury instruction must include all of the following provisions:
(a) The testimony of an in-custody informant who provides evidence against a defendant must be examined and weighed with greater care than the testimony of an ordinary witness.
(b) The in-custody informant may expect, and in practice often receive, a benefit that has not been formally promised to the in-custody informant before trial.
(c) The reliability factors enumerated in section 36c of this chapter must be considered when determining whether the testimony of the in-custody informant has been influenced by interest in a benefit or prejudice against the defendant.
