The last several years, Michigan's legislature has sat on a bill called "Second Look Sentencing." This bill would allow prisoners with long sentences, even life sentences, to have their sentences reviewed by a judge and reduced. Of course, the prisoner would have had to demonstrate good behavior and rehabilitation. The judge would have to be convinced that the prisoner will be safe to release to society sooner than his original sentence mandated.
Although this Second Look Sentencing bill has been introduced in Michigan for at least the last two legislative sessions, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader have held it up from even having a hearing.
Perhaps these legislators are concerned about the potential political fallout of releasing prisoners early. That's why any good time bill has not even had a hearing in the Michigan legislature, too.
But, here are the facts:
* Michigan's average prison sentence is the longest in the nation.
* Michigan's prison system is woefully understaffed, by around 40% the last statistic I've heard.
* Longer prison sentences do not equate to safer communities or to greater rehabilitation.
* Michigan has almost twice the percentage of prisoners who have served more than 10 years compared to other states. The national average is 17% of prisoners, and in Michigan, 32% have served more than 10 years. A full 41% of Michigan prisoners will have to serve more than 10 years before being eligible for parole.
* Michigan has 4,500 lifers who will never leave prison, without a second look option. These prisoners will never be eligible for parole.
* Michigan has a felony murder statute, allowing life sentences for any involvement in a felony where someone died. Premeditation and intention are irrelevant in these cases.
The original Second Look Sentencing bill would allow prisoners to have their sentences reviewed after 10 years. However, given the resistance from legislators, the next version of the bill is likely to raise that limit to 20 years. This will significantly reduce the number of prisoners who might be eligible for reductions in their sentences. But, it's a start.
Yet, even small steps in the right direction require action by the legislature or governor. Instead, they're too focused on preserving (and growing) their positions of power. So, the problems of understaffing, overcrowding, and ineffective sentencing policies remains.
When will Michigan's politicians finally take these problems seriously and make real attempts to resolve them?
(Statistics taken from SADO's Criminal Defense Newsletter, September 2024, Vol. 47, Issue 12.)