Contempt of court is broadly defined as disobedience to or disrespect of a court by acting in opposition to its authority. Contempt of court may be punished by the court with civil penalties (fines) and criminal punishment (confinement in jail).
In Michigan, contempt of court is an act that defies, disrespects, or insults the authority or dignity of a court. There are two main types of contempt: civil and criminal. Civil contempt often involves failure to comply with court orders, such as not paying child support or not adhering to a visitation schedule, and is used to compel a party to comply with the court's order. Criminal contempt involves behavior that obstructs the administration of justice or that is directed against the dignity of the court, such as disrupting court proceedings or failing to appear when summoned. The penalties for contempt of court in Michigan can include fines, compensatory or coercive jail time, and in the case of criminal contempt, punitive jail time. The specific statutes governing contempt proceedings in Michigan can be found in the Michigan Compiled Laws under sections such as MCL 600.1701 for civil contempt and MCL 600.1715 for criminal contempt. The exact punishment for contempt of court can vary depending on the nature of the contemptuous act and the discretion of the court.