Michigan cracks down on felons getting welfare

LANSING (AP) -- The Michigan departments of State Police and Human Services say they resolved 1,994 felony arrest warrants during a joint initiative to make sure felons don't collect welfare. State law bars some forms of public assistance to ex-cons. The state said Monday that the departments ran the campaign in January and February. It says state police cross-checked the names of individuals collecting public assistance against a database of outstanding felony warrants in order to make sure only those who are eligible are receiving public assistance. Of the 4,562 matches, troopers cleared 800 felony arrest warrants. The state says 1,194 other felony arrest warrants were cleared by other law enforcement agencies or the wanted individual reported to authorities. Published: Wed, Mar 20, 2013