LANSING — State Representative Tom Cochran (D-Mason) applauded the passage of legislation today that would raise the amount of reward money a county could offer an individual for an arrest or conviction, or for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. The current amount of $2,000 was set in 1927 and has not been increased since. House Bill 4292 would raise that amount to $20,000.
“It is imperative that we give law enforcement officials every resource available to keep our neighborhoods safe and apprehend criminals,” Cochran said. “By increasing the amount of reward money available for any information leading to an arrest or conviction, we are paying a small price for the larger goal of public safety.”
The reward would cover information not only about a person or persons that committed a crime, but information about those that escaped from a penal institution, such as a jail or prison.
Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth and the Michigan Sheriffs Association support the bill.
“After the tragic death of Deputy Grant Whitaker last year in Ingham County, there were problems coming up with adequate compensation for tips leading to an arrest in the matter,” Cochran said. “This bill will make sure law enforcement officials have due compensation available to those who assist in these serious matters.”
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.