State and local law enforcement officers arrested 137 fugitives during the latest Project S.A.F.E. (Statewide Apprehension of Fugitives Effort) Street sweep, conducted December 4 - 6.  The initiative is an ongoing effort of the Granholm Administration aimed at arresting violent parole absconders.

"Our message is clear - we will do all we can so violent probationers and parolees do not threaten the safety of our children, our families or our communities," Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said.  "Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement agencies, these offenders are off the street."

Granholm established Project S.A.F.E. Street in 2003, in an effort to improve public safety in Michigan by encouraging the state's law enforcement agencies to work together.  The initiative is a joint effort among the Michigan State Police (MSP), the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and local and federal law enforcement to arrest violent offenders known to be in violation of parole and who pose a threat to public safety. 

Of the 137 arrests, 83 were parole violators, 18 were parole absconders and one was a probation violator.  The sweep also included arrests for armed robbery, assault and battery, breaking & entering, criminal sexual assault, domestic violence, home invasion, larceny, possession of marijuana, prison escape, and resisting/obstructing justice.

"The Michigan State Police is committed to keeping Michigan families safe both in our daily activities and by coordinating with our law enforcement partners in special efforts such as this to remove fugitives from our streets," said Colonel Peter C. Munoz, Director of the MSP.

The MSP and MDOC organized the December sweep with assistance from 24 county sheriff's departments, 27 local police departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and a law enforcement agency from Kentucky.

"Reporting to your parole agent is the most basic condition of parole supervision," said MDOC Director Patricia L. Caruso.  "Failing to do this is unacceptable and we must assume they're not following other conditions of supervision as well.  If you fail to follow the most basic condition of parole, we will target you and we will find you."

A total of 3,174 fugitives have been arrested since Project S.A.F.E. Street began in March 2003.