Michigan Prison Shorts

After several years of struggling through the many complications prison presents, a book I co-authored about prison life is finally available for purchase on Amazon.com. This book, titled Insider's Guide to Prison Life, seeks to demystify prison for loved ones on the outside. My goal is to help support and build relationships between those who are incarcerated and their loved ones. If you or someone you know has a loved one in prison, https://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Guide-Prison-Life-Prisoners/dp/B08YFGRLG5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39HD157HSWZ1D&keywords=insiders+guide+to+prison+life&qid=1646912607&sprefix=insiders+guide+to+prison+life%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1 is a must read. Buy it now on https://www.amazon.com for $14.99. 

Senate Bill (S.B.) 649, one of the two "good time" bill currently in the Michigan legislature, has been held up for months now from even receiving a hearing. The Senator holding up this hearing is Senator Roger Victory, the chair of the judiciary committee. If you would like to see good time for Michigan prisoners passed, or even debated by the legislature, contact Senator Victory and urge him to schedule a hearing. He can be contacted at SenRVictory@senate.michigan.gov or (517) 373-6920. 

Another important piece of legislation held up by Senator Victory is S.B. 487, which would create a community oversight committee for Women's Huron Valley prison. After numerous lawsuits have failed to improve conditions and safety at the only women's prison in Michigan, it is critical that the MDOC be held accountable. A community oversight committee would provide that essential accountability. Other states have implemented such a committee, which provides an important level of accountability, especially when corrections departments fail to correct confinement conditions. Contact Senator Victory to urge him to schedule a hearing on this bill as well. SenRVictory@senate.michigan.gov or (517) 373-6920. 

Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that mandatory life sentences for juvenile offenders were unconstitutional, Michigan has STILL not resentenced quite a few offenders sentenced as juveniles to life in prison. Various prosecutors have also failed to follow the Supreme Court's guidelines, so some who have been resentenced must be resentenced again. It's a complete waste of resources, simply because Michigan continues to view juvenile offenders like adults. A package of bills has been introduced to ensure juvenile offenders cannot be sentenced to life without parole. They are S.B. 848-851. If you would like to track the progress of these bills or give your input regarding them, contact https://www.safeandjustmi.org to receive timely updates. Their email address is info@safeandjustmi.org.   

The Adolescent Redemption Project (TARP) is another organization working tirelessly to end life without parole for youthful offenders (14-25 years old). TARP is active on social media and offers opportunities for people in free society to hear directly from men and women who were sentenced to life without parole as youthful offenders. You can follow their work at www.AdolescentRedemptionProject.org, on Twitter at @TARP4Mercy, on Facebook under The Adolescent Redemption Project, and InstaGram @AdolescentRedemptionProject. 

I hope you'll take the time to support the great work these organizations are doing and to urge the Michigan legislature to finally act on these important bills.