The Michigan Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) is a statewide computerized information system, which was established July 1, 1967, as a service to Michigan’s criminal justice agencies. The goal of LEIN is to assist the criminal justice community in the performance of its duties by providing and maintaining a computerized filing system of accurate and timely documented criminal justice information readily available to all criminal justice agencies.

General policy concerning the philosophy, concept, and operational principles of the LEIN system is based upon the recommendations of the Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) Policy Council.

LEIN access is permitted to criminal justice agencies in the discharge of their official, mandated responsibilities.

Criminal penalties for the misuse of LEIN are provided in Section 4 of the LEIN Policy Council Act, MCL 28.214, which specifically states:

• For a first offense, guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
• For a second or subsequent offense, guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.