The new police operated database can make identifying info available to police in emergencies.
A new law, signed recently by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, addresses the need for law enforcement to quickly and accurately identify people with special needs. The idea that drove these bills is that in the event of a missing persons case, where the missing individual has special needs, police can identify them quickly and be properly prepared for all situations.
The law began as two bills, one sponsored by the House and the other by the Senate. The bill introduced by the House expands on the Child Identification and Protection Act by giving caregivers of special needs persons the right to distribute that individual’s personal information in the event that they go missing.
The second portion of the legislation, sponsored by the Senate, expands on what is classified as identifying information, by allowing photographs and fingerprints to be included in the information distributed. Both bills passed the House and Senate unanimously before being signed into law by our governor. A clear sign that Michigan is one hundred percent behind this idea.
Not sure what this means? Let’s break it down….
Under the new law, the Michigan State Police are required to provide a form on their website that can be downloaded and filled out by the parents or guardians of special needs persons. This would then be submitted, along with the fingerprints and a photograph of the individual. The information provided to the Michigan State Police would then be passed along to the the FBI. The reason? Because sometimes people with special needs go missing and, for their own safety, need to be located quickly and efficiently. That would include special needs people that might have crossed state lines.
“Ensuring that all Michiganders can be identified quickly in an emergency situation is critically important. This legislation helps parents or guardians of individuals with special needs have greater peace of mind knowing that their loved one can be identified, should an unforeseen emergency occur.” explained Governor Snyder at a recent press conference.
Some are not as pleased about the new database as its originators.
Numerous citizens around Michigan have spoken up, claiming that this is nothing more than another way for the government to collect data on innocent civilians and track them. Although the legislation states that a parent or guardian has the right to request that the MSP remove that data from the FBI’s files at any point in the future, not everyone believes it will be that easy.
Attorney Brandy Thompson at The Kronzek Firm thinks that “This looks like we need to balance the possible benefits of rescuing a person with special needs against the rights of that person to privacy. Whatever your position, it’s now our law in Michigan. If it helps save a live, I’m all for for it.”
As defense attorneys, we’re all about protecting the Constitutional right to privacy. We’re also all about saving lives. We understand how constantly changing legislation affects so many people’s lives. For this reason, we work hard to keep our readers up to date with the newest and most relevant information.
Beyond that, however, if you or a loved one have been accused of a crime in Michigan and need legal help, call The Kronzek Firm at 866 766 5245 immediately. We have decades of experience helping people from all over Michigan with their legal concerns, and we can help you too.