Macomb County's Conviction Integrity Unit Awarded $1.6 Million Grant For Post Conviction DNA Cases

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido is thrilled to announce that on September 27 the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) was awarded the “Post Conviction DNA Evidence Award”. This a $1.6 million award of grant money from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance for post-conviction review of cases for DNA evidence and testing.

This grant is highly sought after and involves entities competing for it across the United States. The total award available to all those who applied this year was $6 million. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office CIU grant of $1.6 million was one of only four programs in the country to receive an award.

The grant money will be allocated over 3 years. It will be used by the CIU to increase its capacity to identify and review post-conviction DNA cases and locate biological evidence to determine whether DNA testing may prove actual innocence in felony cases. The CIU hopes to add 2 attorneys, 2 investigators and a full-time clerical assistant with grant funds to accomplish these objectives.

Gail Pamukov, chief of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office CIU, said “this is a real game changer for our Unit. We have a serious backlog of cases. Some are from the mid 1980s. Those cases occurred before DNA testing was even available as a forensic tool. The grant will be invaluable in increasing our capacity to clear cases via case review, DNA identification and testing.”

Lucido said, “this is one of the largest grants for a single unit ever received by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. I am committed to finding as much grant money as possible to give my office the funds to continually provide the citizens of Macomb County with the best possible public safety service. The prosecutors’ office now has a consultant on contract that searches for grant funds and assists in the grant process. The grant awards this year shows the dedication and tremendous return on this staff investment.”

The Conviction Integrity Unit reviews post-conviction claims of innocence. The Macomb County CIU had its first exoneration in March 2023. Lucido formed the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office’s CIU in 2022 after his budget request for an additional assistant prosecuting attorney was approved by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners.

For additional information regarding the Macomb County CIU, visit the Macomb County Prosecutor’s CIU website and link: https://prosecutor.macombgov.org/Prosecutor-Units-ConvictionIntegrity.