AltWeeklies Wire
The Fire Next Timenew

What's behind 8,000 fires & how Detroit's arson investigators & prosecutor are extinguishing the flames.
Metro Times |
Valerie Vande Panne |
10-29-2014 |
Crime & Justice
New Tactic for Crime?new

Detroit cops to target gang members with 'cease fire' strategy.
Metro Times |
Larry Gabriel |
09-26-2012 |
Crime & Justice
When Innocence Is Pinknew

Wrongly convicted women fight for recognition, support, remedies.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
01-19-2011 |
Crime & Justice
A Detroit Neighborhood Fights for its Life, and an Ex-Cop Leads the Waynew

Earlier that day, James "Jack Rabbit" Jackson — a retired cop — parked his car in front of a dealer's house and pointed a video camera at him in a blatant effort to disrupt his business. It drove the guy away. Now he was coming back for Jackson and Jackson was waiting for him.
Metro Times |
Detroitblogger John |
02-23-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Michigan Law Clinic Springs Two Men from Prisonnew

The University of Michigan Innocence Clinic -- considered the first such law school project in the country to tackle cases without DNA evidence -- celebrated its first success recently when Marvin Reed and his nephew Deshawn were released from prison.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
08-11-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Lt. Col. Stephen Abraham: We All Share Blame for Guantanamonew
What really matters now regarding the Cuba-based U.S. detention center, according to a former military attorney who was part of the tribunals there, is simple: The American people could've prevented it and changed it.
Metro Times |
Staff |
11-11-2008 |
Crime & Justice
One Exoneree Finds Purpose in Advocacy, Closure in ID of Perpnew
Ken Wyniemko spent nearly a decade behind bars for a rape. His most pressing concern was surviving. His second was proving his innocence. He succeeded at both.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
07-08-2008 |
Crime & Justice
DNA Points to Perp in Rape for Which Wrong Man Did Timenew
Five years ago, Ken Wyniemko was released from the Michigan prison system, exonerated after a decade behind bars for a rape that DNA evidence concluded he did not commit. On Wednesday, police confirmed that a match has been made to the DNA collected at the scene of the 1994 Macomb County rape for which Wyniemko was arrested, convicted and incarcerated.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
07-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Outlook is Bleak for Man Who Claims He Was Falsely Convictednew
Things aren't looking too good for Fredrick Freeman, who is serving a life sentence for the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem in Port Huron. He's exhausted his state appeals and now has filed a habeas petition in U.S. District Court in Detroit. That case is still pending.
Metro Times |
Staff |
07-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Were DeShawn and Marvin Reed Wrongfully Convicted?new
A paralyzed shooting victim first identified the two accused assailants now in prison in the blink of an eye. Now he's having second thoughts.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
06-10-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Advocates for Man Sentenced to Life See Evidence at Lastnew
In another development that has Freeman's defense team more optimistic than they've been in years, authorities say they're "willing to listen" if the team makes a good argument for re-examining the case.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
02-19-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Righting the Wrongful Convictionsnew
A national movement to prevent, reverse or remedy wrongful convictions has swept into Michigan's Legislature this term with six bills that would reform police investigations, change DNA testing procedures, compensate those improperly imprisoned and clear their records.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
10-23-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Two Decades On, Fredrick Freeman Argues His Innocencenew
When he was arrested for murder nearly 21 years ago, Port Huron police didn't give Freeman the polygraph test he requested; he didn't testify at his trial; and none of his appeals in the state courts have included his testimony except in written affidavits. Last week he finally made his case.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
09-11-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
More Michigan Prisoners Seek Clemencynew
Since its formation in February, the Executive Clemency Advisory Council has helped inspire an unprecedented number of requests for clemency.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
08-28-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: clemency, crime & justice
Reasonable Doubt in a Small-town Murdernew
Two decades into Fredrick Freeman's life sentence, his advocates are making last-ditch attempts to right what they call a flagrant injustice.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
08-14-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice