Michigan · Criminal & Records
The Michigan Criminal Law Guide
Understanding Michigan's criminal courts, the path from arrest to trial, your rights during the process, and potential sentencing outcomes.
2026-2027 Edition · Cited to Michigan law · Plain language
Paperback · $19.99
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Cited to the statute · Legal information, not legal advice
How a criminal case moves through Michigan's courts
Arraignment, bail and pretrial release, the preliminary exam, sentencing guidelines, HYTA, and post-conviction options, explained in plain language.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
A criminal charge in Michigan sets off a process with its own courts, hearings, and vocabulary. The Michigan Criminal Law Guide explains how that process works under the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750), the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Michigan Court Rules.
The guide starts with what sets Michigan apart: a presumption of release on personal recognizance or an unsecured bond, a preliminary examination in district court in place of a grand jury in most felony cases, felony classes A through H under the sentencing guidelines, and the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act for certain offenses committed between ages 18 and 26.
Inside, the guide explains:
• The arraignment and how bail and release conditions are set
• The preliminary exam and what it means to be "bound over" to circuit court
• Indeterminate sentencing, Prior Record Variables, and Offense Variables
• Fines, costs, restitution, probation, and parole
• Appeals and the 6500 motion for relief from judgment
The guide is written for two readers: the person accused and the family member or supporter. Checklists, comparison tables, a glossary, and questions to ask an attorney round out the Toolkit.
Legal information, not legal advice.
WHAT’S INSIDE
- The Foundation: The Michigan Penal Code
- The Anatomy of a Criminal Charge
- The First Steps: Arraignment and Pretrial Release
- The Path Forward: Preliminary Exams and Sentencing Frameworks
- Exceptions and Defenses
- Rights of Family Member or Supporter
- Step-by-step procedures from each side, with deadlines at a glance
- 24 real-world questions and answers
- Statute index, key court decisions and official forms
- Toolkit: checklists, comparison tables, glossary and common mistakes to avoid
WHY READERS TRUST THIS GUIDE
Plain language. Cited to the statute. Dated so you know it is current.
Every rule is cited to Michigan law so you can verify it.
Cited, so you can check it
Every rule names the section of Michigan law it comes from, so you can read the source yourself.
Plain language, no filler
Written to be read start to finish by someone with no legal training, with worked examples.
Dated and updated
Each guide carries a law-current date and new editions ship when the law changes.
Bonus toolkit
Register your book for this topic’s checklists, worksheets and starter template, as soon as they are ready.
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BUY
Michigan criminal charges: what to know before you order.
Straight answers about what the guide is, what it covers and how it reaches you.
What is a preliminary exam in Michigan?
It is a district court hearing in felony cases where a judge decides whether there is probable cause. If so, the case is "bound over" to circuit court. The guide explains each step.
What is HYTA in Michigan?
The Holmes Youthful Trainee Act allows certain offenses committed from age 18 to before 26 to be handled without a public conviction if probation is completed. The guide explains eligibility.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is legal information in plain language, cited to the law, so you understand your options and know what to ask. Reading it creates no attorney-client relationship.
Is it written for Michigan?
Yes. This guide is written for Michigan law and cites the Michigan statutes and rules it relies on. If your case is in another state, choose that state's edition.
KEEP GOING
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PLEASE READ
Legal information, not legal advice. STACKED LEGAL® is a publisher, not a law firm. Buying or reading this book creates no attorney-client relationship and promises no outcome. Laws change; verify current law and talk to a licensed attorney in Michigan about your situation.
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