16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

Most violent Michigan crimes go unsolved. Lawmakers want to change that – Bridge Michigan

Most violent Michigan crimes go unsolved. Lawmakers want to change that – Bridge Michigan
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Most violent Michigan crimes go unsolved. Lawmakers want to change that  Bridge Michigan

 

Advancing SDG 16 in Michigan: A Legislative Proposal to Enhance Violent Crime Clearance Rates

Current State of Violent Crime Resolution and Implications for SDG 16

Recent data indicates significant challenges in Michigan’s efforts to achieve key targets within Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The state’s capacity to reduce violence (Target 16.1) and ensure access to justice for all (Target 16.3) is undermined by low clearance rates for violent crimes.

  • In 2024, Michigan’s law enforcement agencies had a 48% solve rate for violent crimes, including murder, rape, assault, and robbery. This means more than half of these incidents went unsolved.
  • This rate, while a slight improvement from 43% in 2019, lags behind leading states such as Vermont and New York, where clearance rates range from 60% to 76%.
  • Specific 2024 clearance rates highlight the challenge:
    • Murder: 31.7%
    • First-degree criminal sexual assault: 25%
    • Felonious assaults: 65.1%
  • The low rates prevent closure for victims and their families, potentially eroding public trust in justice systems and failing to deter future violence, which are core tenets of SDG 16.

The Violent Crime Clearance Act: A Bipartisan Initiative for Stronger Institutions (SDG 16.6)

In response, a bipartisan legislative proposal, the Violent Crime Clearance Act, has been introduced by Rep. Sarah Lightner and Sen. Stephanie Chang. This initiative directly addresses SDG Target 16.6, which calls for developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions. The act proposes a grant program, initially funded with $5 million, to strengthen the capacity of local law enforcement agencies.

  1. Enhance Human Resources: Provide funds to hire and train more investigators, addressing staffing shortages that lead to unmanageable caseloads for detectives.
  2. Modernize Equipment and Processes: Allow for the upgrade of equipment used for evidence collection and processing, thereby reducing forensic backlogs that delay investigations.
  3. Improve Victim Services: Allocate resources to support those directly impacted by violent crime, ensuring a more victim-centered approach to justice, in line with SDG 16.3.
  4. Promote Accountability: Require additional data collection and reporting to track outcomes, increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the institutions responsible for public safety.

Expected Outcomes and Contributions to Sustainable Development

The proposed legislation is expected to yield significant progress toward multiple Sustainable Development Goals by improving the efficacy of the state’s justice system.

  • Promoting Peace and Safety (SDG 16.1 & SDG 11): By increasing the likelihood that perpetrators are apprehended, the initiative aims to deter premeditated criminal acts, contributing to the reduction of violence and the creation of safer, more sustainable communities.
  • Ensuring Access to Justice for All (SDG 16.3 & SDG 5): Higher clearance rates provide a measure of closure and justice for victims and their families. This is particularly critical for underreported crimes and those with low solve rates, such as sexual assault, advancing gender equality and justice for vulnerable populations.
  • Building Trust in Effective Institutions (SDG 16.6): Successfully solving more crimes, including cold cases, can help rebuild community trust in law enforcement and the broader justice system, reinforcing the perception of these bodies as effective and accountable.

National Context and Resource Allocation for Institutional Capacity (SDG 16.a)

The challenges in Michigan reflect a multi-decade national decline in violent crime clearance rates. Experts and law enforcement officials identify a lack of resources as a primary cause, citing insufficient staffing and funding for investigative units. This resource deficit is a direct barrier to building the institutional capacity needed to combat crime effectively, as called for in SDG Target 16.a. The proposed grant program represents a targeted investment to strengthen these local institutions, providing the necessary support to enhance their operational capabilities and fulfill their mandate to protect communities and deliver justice.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

    This is the most relevant SDG. The article’s core focus is on the effectiveness of law enforcement (a key institution), the prevalence of unsolved violent crime, and the impact on justice for victims. The proposed legislation, the “Violent Crime Clearance Act,” is a direct effort to strengthen these institutions to improve justice outcomes and promote a more peaceful society by deterring crime.

  • SDG 5: Gender Equality

    This SDG is relevant because the article specifically mentions violent crimes that disproportionately affect women, such as “rape” and “first-degree criminal sexual assaults.” The low clearance rate for these crimes, noted as “about 25% of reported first-degree criminal sexual assaults were cleared,” directly relates to ensuring justice for female victims of violence.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

    The article is centered on violent crimes including “murder, assault, rape and robbery.” A key argument for the proposed legislation is that boosting crime-solving rates would “act as a deterrent for would-be criminals,” which is a direct strategy to reduce the occurrence of violence.

  2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

    The article highlights a failure in providing access to justice, stating that low solve rates prevent “closure for victims and their families.” The entire initiative is aimed at improving the justice system’s ability to hold criminals accountable, thereby promoting the rule of law and ensuring that victims of crime have a better chance at receiving justice.

  3. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions… to prevent violence and combat… crime.

    The proposed legislation is a clear example of this target in action. It aims to create a grant program “funneling more resources to local police” to “hire and train investigators, upgrade equipment for evidence collection and improve victim services.” This is a direct investment in strengthening the capacity of law enforcement institutions to combat crime.

  4. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…

    The article’s specific data point that only “about 25% of reported first-degree criminal sexual assaults were cleared” points directly to this target. Improving the clearance rate for sexual assault is a critical component of the justice system’s role in eliminating violence against women and holding perpetrators accountable.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several specific quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

  • Overall violent crime solve/clearance rate: The article explicitly states Michigan’s rate was “48% in 2024,” an improvement from “43% in 2019.” This is a primary indicator of the effectiveness of law enforcement (Target 16.a) and the delivery of justice (Target 16.3).
  • Crime-specific clearance rates: The article provides a detailed breakdown of clearance rates for specific violent crimes, which serve as direct indicators for progress on reducing different forms of violence (Target 16.1) and violence against women (Target 5.2). The rates mentioned are:

    • Murder: 31.7%
    • Felonious assaults: 65.1%
    • First-degree criminal sexual assaults: 25%
  • Financial investment in institutional strengthening: The proposed cost of the grant program, with Senator Chang “advocating for $5 million to get it off the ground,” serves as a financial input indicator for measuring the commitment to strengthening institutions as per Target 16.a.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators Identified in the Article
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence.

16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all.

16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions to combat crime.

  • Overall violent crime solve rate (48% in 2024).
  • Clearance rate for murder (31.7%).
  • Clearance rate for felonious assaults (65.1%).
  • Provision of resources to law enforcement (proposed $5 million grant program).
  • Improved victim services and closure for victims’ families.
SDG 5: Gender Equality 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls.
  • Clearance rate for first-degree criminal sexual assaults (25%).
  • Clearance rate for rape (mentioned as a category of violent crime).

Source: bridgemi.com

 

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