Detroit Law Department speaks before Detroit City Council on Sept. 2, 2025. Photo: Samuel Robinson

Starting next summer, the city of Detroit will lead the prosecution of some misdemeanors which will give the city more control over sentencing and should give the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office more time to handle violent crimes.

The Detroit City Council approved 8-1 an amendment to the city code through an ordinance Tuesday allowing its law department to prosecute misdemeanor crimes such as retail fraud, larceny and domestic violence.

Members of the city’s law department, who will serve as prosecuting attorneys for such misdemeanor cases, called the move a historic change in the way crimes are prosecuted in Detroit.

“This in my mind is a historic change we’re now bringing those prosecu

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