Macomb County Prosecutor's Office using text messages, AI videos to reach crime victims

Text message reminders and the use of artificial intelligence is becoming more common in all types of workplaces, and the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is jumping in — to help victims of crime.

The office announced it is starting to use text messages to send court hearing reminders, complete with AI-generated videos, to help crime victims get timely notifications and information about cases and hearings.

The effort began in June through the office's newer case management system. In a spot check from July 1-16, there have been 503 newly authorized cases with a victim, with 164 of them receiving text messages about their hearings and that number expected to rise exponentially, said Todd Schmitz, the office's chief of operations.

"We wanted to make this experience as less stressful as possible," Prosecutor Peter Lucido said Friday. "We're looking at modernizing our systems to modern crimes. ... Modern tools to prosecute modern crimes."

In a July 15 release, Lucido's office stated the text messages include contact information for the office's Crime Victim Rights Unit, a link to the form for requesting crime victim rights and instructions on how to opt out of text notifications.

Each victim also receives a 30-second AI-generated video from Lucido with information. Within 24 hours of a district court clerk scheduling a new court hearing, according to the release, victims receive a text notice of upcoming preliminary examination hearings and trials and an AI-generated video explaining that hearing.

The cost of the AI component is $2,005 a year, Schmitz said.

John Perry, spokesperson for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, said Lucido is the first prosecutor he has heard of using artificial intelligence to reach victims.

"Victim notification is an important factor in the work of prosecutors, and harnessing new technology is an important part of that work," he wrote in an email.

Perry stated most prosecutor offices in Michigan handle victim notification through VINE, which he said is operated and paid for through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. He stated VINE has options for text and email notifications about court events and custody status. VINE, a free, confidential 24-hour service, stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday.

According to VINE's website, it is the nation's leading victim notification network and allows survivors, crime victims and others access to timely information about offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons. It is available in 48 states and covers 2,900 incarceration facilities.

Perry said this year there is continued implementation of PROSECUTORbyKarpel, the case management system for prosecutors that also has options for generating electronic notifications. According to the system's website, it is the most widely used prosecutor case management software in the U.S.

By the end of the year, Perry stated, more than 35 counties in Michigan will be using this system, with Macomb County being one of the counties. Schmitz said the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office started using the system almost a year ago and began use of the text messaging capability in June.

He and Lucido said the system allows for two-way communication, such as allowing victims to RSVP their attendance, which will help reduce expenses and cost of adjournments in court for failure to appear; providing proof of restitution and damages, and getting information out quicker to handle questions and issues that may arise.

Perry said Michigan counties are operating with two primary options for keeping victims in the loop through text messages and email, and there also are variations. Perry said Kent County goes through and pulls results from its court system and sends out notifications, and other counties may do something similar.

Also, he wrote, victim advocates in the prosecutor's offices statewide back electronic communication with personal contact as much as they can.

"Victim notification, coupled with contact with a person who can help navigate the system and offer information on resources, provides a comprehensive approach," Perry wrote.

Maria Miller, spokesperson for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, said once a case is authorized by an assistant prosecutor in the Karpel case management system, it is sent to the victim services queue and a victim advocate is assigned.

She said the victim advocate sends the initial packet to the victim via email or U.S. mail to inform them of the charges and a call for the introduction. Victims then are "continuously notified" via email or U.S. mail for each hearing date generated by the case management system.

"We have the capability to text in Karpel and this is often utilized," Miller wrote in an email. "As far as the contact method, the victim has a preference of how they want to receive their notification."

Miller said some victims prefer a piece of paper, which will be mailed. Victims can change their preferred method of contact at any time, she wrote.

Lucido said he can see offices going paperless at some point. He said law enforcement agencies can email video links from body cameras and doorbell cameras and the links can be sent to defense attorneys for discovery.

Through this new AI effort, he said, crime victims can have a more personal, interactive experience with someone offering short explainers on what to expect.

Lucido said he believes this effort will enhance the role of victims' advocates by reducing the time they need to field calls on basic questions and allowing them to spend more quality time helping victims at the time they need it.

"We want to make sure that they know that we are here and we are their support. We are here as their ally," he said. "They're actually walking with us through the criminal justice system."

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.