Michigan Has the Eighth Highest Incarceration Rate in the World

 This year (2023) has seen probably more criminal justice reform bills introduced in Michigan than in any recent years. But they've nearly all died in committee. Legislators have been reluctant, for whatever their reasons, to advance any of these bills. Now, after our recent election, the Democrats, who were more likely than Republicans to pass these bills, have temporarily lost control of Michigan's House of Representatives. 

It's discouraging to have so much hope for the passage of some of these critical bills, only to see them die in committee. Nothing has really changed at all. 

In the summer 2022 edition of Fast Company magazine, Kristin Toussaint wrote about a bill passed in California that allows some prisoners to be resentenced after years of good behavior ("A Law that Rectifies Injustice," p. 68). It's a second chance bill, similar to Michigan's Second Look Act that never advanced out of committee (H.B. 4556 and S.B. 321). 

Toussaint shares incarceration rates from around the world, and not surprisingly, Michigan is very high on the list. In fact, the top eight locations listed are in the United States (Louisiana tops the list). Per capita, Michigan ranks as the eighth highest incarceration rate in the world. As of 2022, Michigan incarcerates 599 people out of every 100,000. That's more than three times the rate of China and more than 17 times higher than India! Even Cuba (510) and Russia (329) incarcerate fewer people per capita than Michigan. 

That's a very sad statistic that ought to deeply trouble Michigan lawmakers. But it's unpopular to let prisoners out early, even if Michigan's average prison sentence is longer than any other state in the nation. It's definitely not that Michigan has higher crime rates than other states and other countries. Michigan has simply made prison industry a foundation of its economy. 

Taxpayers ought to be angy that Michigan continues to incarcerate people for decades longer than necessary, when laws like the Second Look Act could allow for smart, evidence based decision making on reducing lengthy sentences. Why are we wasting precious tax dollars to keep prison jobs Michigan cannot even fill? 

It's time for Michigan citizens to step up and have the courage that the lawmakers don't have. Please be sure to sign the petition to bring the Good Time ballot initiative to Michigan voters. 
Go to:  www.gtballot2023.org  find out more.