Lawmakers are clamoring from both sides of the aisle to address what they see as the latest outrage – a person accused in a 10-year-old East Lansing manslaughter case who may get off scot-free.
Both State Rep. Mark Meadows, an East Lansing Democrat, and state Sen. Rick Jones, a Grand Ledge Republican, expressed dismay over the 10-year statute of limitations for manslaughter in Michigan. Authorities recently announced they had a suspect in a 2000 manslaughter case, but can’t prosecute the case because the statute of limitations for manslaughter has expired.
Jones wants to review the law in the Senate Judiciary Committee that he chairs, and Meadows has introduced a bill to allow prosecution within 10 years of authorities identifying a suspect – not merely within 10 years of the crime.
Meadows, a former assistant attorney general, has even offered to testify at Jones’ committee hearing.
A gesture of bipartisanship: Many voters would happily wave a limitations statute on that offer.
