Green Criminology and Environmental Crimes in the State of Michigan

• In Event: The Social and Political Context of Crime, Terrorism, and Violence Reduction

Abstract

Recent government scandals and public health catastrophes have turned worldwide attention to environmental health issues in the state of Michigan. The Flint Water Crisis as well as the mass water shutoffs of thousands of Detroit residents have called into question local, state, and government officials’ handling of environmental health, human rights, and social justice issues. Since its inception, green criminology has been concerned about the intersections between environment, public health, and political economy. This paper sets out to explore the distribution of environmental crime, including government responses to environmental crime, in the state of Michigan. Data from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) as well as the Environmental Protection Agency are analyzed. This includes discussion of the MDEQ’s permit process in the state of Michigan. Key findings and implications for green criminology are presented and discussed.

Author

• Kimberly Barrett, Eastern Michigan University