Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 768 / Act 175 of 1927
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27 (2026)

Evidence; proof of intent or motive by similar acts.

✓ current as of July 2026
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THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE


Act 175 of 1927


768.27 Evidence; proof of intent or motive by similar acts.

Sec. 27.

    In any criminal case where the defendant's motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system in doing an act, is material, any like acts or other acts of the defendant which may tend to show his motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system in doing the act, in question, may be proved, whether they are contemporaneous with or prior or subsequent thereto; notwithstanding that such proof may show or tend to show the commission of another or prior or subsequent crime by the defendant.

History: 1927, Act 175, Eff. Sept. 5, 1927 ;-- CL 1929, 17320 ;-- CL 1948, 768.27

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 290 cases (25 in the last 5 years), 1950–2025 · leading case: People v. Watkins; People v. Pullen, 818 N.W.2d 296 (Mich. 2012).
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People v. Watkins; People v. Pullen, 818 N.W.2d 296 (Mich. 2012). · cites it 32× “”42 Preventing the jury from drawing this inference recognizes the risk that propensity evidence might “‘weigh too much with the jury and .”
People v. Golochowicz, 319 N.W.2d 518 (Mich. 1982). · cites it 14× “On the basis of the so-called similar-acts statute, MCL 768.27; MSA 28.1050, the Michigan Rules of Evidence not having been adopted at the time of the trial, the prosecutor was able to introduce, *306 over defense objection, the following testimony of Dennis O'Clare: On about…”
People v. Jackson, 869 N.W.2d 253 (Mich. 2015). · cites it 8× “At trial, the prosecution introduced evidence regarding a separate delivery of heroin the defendant had made to this same officer a few days earlier, successfully arguing that it was admissible under MCL 768.27. 6 This Court affirmed the admission of this evidence of the…”
People v. VanderVliet, 508 N.W.2d 114 (Mich. 1993). · cites it 6× “People v Smith, 388 Mich 93 ; 200 NW2d 196 (1972); People v Spillman, 63 Mich App 256 ; 234 NW2d 475 *105 (1975); MCL 768.27; MSA 28.1050." [19] In re Proposed Michigan Rules of Evidence, 399 Mich 951 , 974 (1977).”
People v. Oliphant, 250 N.W.2d 443 (Mich. 1976). · cites it 8× “The people offered the testimony of the three witnesses pursuant to MCLA 768.27; MSA 28.1050 which reads: "In any criminal case where the defendant's motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system in doing an act, is…”
People v. Duncan, 260 N.W.2d 58 (Mich. 1977). · cites it 6× “*11 I The first issue is the admissibility of the so-called "similar acts" evidence under MCLA 768.27; MSA 28.1050, which reads: "In any criminal case where the defendant's motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system…”
People v. Dobek, 732 N.W.2d 546 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “The Court, after generally acknowledging proper purposes for admitting other-acts evidence under MCL 768.27, such as to show intent or scheme, plan, or system, 16 ruled: *89 Similarly, it has been held that the probative value outweighs the disadvantage where the crime charged…”
People v. Chism, 211 N.W.2d 193 (Mich. 1973). · cites it 8× “admissibility of evidence of prior similar action under MCLA 768.27; MSA 28.1050; and 3. validity of particular search and seizures.”
People v. Major, 285 N.W.2d 660 (Mich. 1979). · cites it 6× “MCL 768.27; MSA 28.1050 [3] provides: "In any criminal case where the defendant's motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system in doing an act, is material, any like acts or other acts of the defendant which may tend…”
People v. Delgado, 273 N.W.2d 395 (Mich. 1978). · cites it 6× “Testimony concerning the January 17 sale was admitted at defendant's trial on the justification that it constituted a "similar act" within the meaning of MCLA 768.27; MSA 28.1050. On appeal defendant contests the admissibility of the "similar acts" testimony; he has not…”
People v. Masroor, 880 N.W.2d 812 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 4× “27a states: (1) Notwithstanding section 27 [MCL 768.27, the statutory analog of MRE 404(b)], in a criminal case in which the defendant is accused of committing a listed offense against a minor, evidence that the defendant committed another listed offense against a minor is…”
People v. Smith, 772 N.W.2d 428 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “Section 27, which is MCL 768.27, is essentially the Legislature’s version of MRE 404(b), providing: In any criminal case where the defendant’s motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant’s scheme, plan or system in doing an act, is material,…”
Show all 290 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(2)(a) — 2 cases
People of Michigan v. Christopher Dewayne Whitlock (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
People of Michigan v. Willie Lamont-Claud Washington (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(5)(b)(i) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Darryl Keith Harden (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(B)(1) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Dennis Ray Farmer Jr (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(a) — 3 cases
Dilts 406058 v. Rapelje (W.D. Mich. 2021).
Manning 770591 v. Curtin (W.D. Mich. 2020).
Stevens (E.D. Mich. 2025).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(a)(1) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Taiwan Prater (Mich. Ct. App. 2022).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(b) — 6 cases
People of Michigan v. Martell Deshawn Holt (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).
People of Michigan v. Micah Lynn Evans (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
People of Michigan v. Micah Lynn Evans (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
People of Michigan v. David Mitchell Tokarski (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
Evans v. Skipper (E.D. Mich. 2023).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(b)(2) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Michael Kevin Jackson (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.27(b)(4) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Jose Ramon Martinez (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).
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