Beth Hand
By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Feature Columnist
LUDINGTON — Mason County has a long history of prosecuting attorneys dating back many years. In recent memory, I think of names like Cris Van Oosterum, Susan Kasley Sniegowski, Paul Spanolia, and Lauren Kreinbrink. Earlier in my life, I often remember reading cases Van Oosterum was working on. His name became well known and remains ingrained in my mind. In 2024, another name well known and respected by Mason County law enforcement moved into that position: Beth Hand.
During a meeting earlier this week with Mason County Undersheriff Derrek Wilson, we discussed topics within the department that could make for articles. As we spoke, he asked if I would be willing to write about the Mason County prosecuting attorney. He impressed upon me that law enforcement, along with city and county officials, work closely with the prosecutor’s office, and that Hand was putting in a tremendous amount of time and effort. He said she truly cares about her job, her duties, and the community, and felt the public should better understand what she does. With that in mind, I contacted Hand’s office.
Beth Hand was born and raised near Detroit, in an area locally known as Downriver. After high school, she attended Kalamazoo College, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Detroit Law. Hand spent 2001 to 2021 with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. In 2021, she and her husband relocated to Irons and later to the family farm in Mason County. Her husband, Dave, retired from the Michigan State Police after 31 years of service. They have three adult daughters and are happy grandparents — this writer’s best job, by the way.
Hand had been Mason County chief assistant prosecuting attorney under Kreinbrink. Following Kreinbrink’s departure, Hand was appointed Mason County prosecuting attorney on May 31, 2024 while seeking election for the position. In November 2024 she was elected to the office.
Hand once considered going into law enforcement with the FBI or DEA, but her focus shifted to prosecution. Her uncle, a former Oakland County assistant prosecuting attorney and later a judge, told her the best job he ever had was being an assistant prosecuting attorney. She came to believe he was right.
As I spoke with Hand, I could not help but notice her enthusiasm and dedication. Undersheriff Wilson had told me she puts in long hours, often working late into the night and early in the morning. I asked her about that, and she replied, “I cannot imagine not giving 110%.” If she is not working on a Saturday, she is working on a Sunday.
Talking with Hand, you can feel her love for the work, as well as the respect she has for her coworkers and the agencies she works alongside. That respect is evident in the way she speaks about people and her role. We discussed the differences between working downstate and in Mason County. “The sense of community here is amazing,” Hand said.
When she was appointed, it almost felt as if the job chose her. “This job is a calling,” she said. Hand pours herself into her work, often spending 12- to 14-hour days and part of her weekends in the office. “People don’t realize how much you put into your job, and what it takes,” she said.
Her staff is slowly expanding to its full capacity, and she hopes to take an actual vacation sometime next year.
I hope this article gives readers a better understanding of her work and her dedication to the community. I found her to be sincere and deeply committed to her role. “I love what I do,” Hand said.
Just spending time with her, it is clear she cares deeply about the community and feels a strong responsibility to pursue justice. Mason County is fortunate that Hand stepped up when called upon.
__________________________________________________
Please Support Local News and Sports Coverage
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
The payment can be paid monthly through PayPal: Click this link.
To sign up for an annual subscription, email editor@mediagroup31.com. In the subject line write: Subscription. Please supply your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (indicate cell phone). We will not share your information with any outside sources.
For more than one email address in a household, the cost is $15 per month per email address.
We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
Payment must be made in advance prior to subscription activation.
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
.png)
