House budget hits most vulnerable families, those seeking to change their lives Contact: Chuck Warpehoski chuckw@mi-cemi.org MICHIGAN – Public safety advocates are speaking out against a budget passed by Republican members of the Michigan State House of Representatives that cuts funds to programs that promote public safety by preventing crime, promoting rehabilitation, and supporting successful…
Your story has power—and your voice can move the needle. MI-CEMI is proud to partner with Engage Michigan to offer Mic Check: Spokesperson Training for the Movement, a free virtual training built for directly impacted leaders, community organizers, and advocates across Michigan.
Earlier this month, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in People v. Czarnecki and People v. Taylor, holding that mandatory life without parole (LWOP) sentences for people who were 19 or 20 at the time of the offense are unconstitutional—and that this decision applies retroactively. Combined with the People v. Poole ruling (affirming resentencing rights for 18-year-olds sentenced…
At MI-CEMI, we know that words matter. The language we use shapes how society views individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. That’s why we created the MI-CEMI Impact Language Glossary—a resource designed to help advocates, media professionals, and policymakers use language that uplifts rather than dehumanizes. On Friday, March 7th, from 12:30 – 1:30…
You have the power to drive real change in our criminal legal system. You are invited to join us in creating content that advocates for a future free from mass incarceration, violence, and inequality. Our goal is to end life and long sentences, shift the focus from punishment to accountability and healing, and work toward…
Join us for a discussion on Ethical Storytelling on Thursday, November 21st, from 12:00 to 1:30 PM EST. This event will explore how to center impacted voices in our narratives while avoiding tokenization and retraumatization. We’ll hear insights from representatives of Safe and Just Michigan, the Michigan Center for Youth Justice (MCYJ), and the American…
CONTACT: Will Mesinger, Will@MerakiCommsGroup.com, (518) 338-7119 (Lansing, Michigan) – Today, the Second Look Michigan Coalition released the following statement responding to the severe staffing shortages in Michigan’s prisons: Today, there are hundreds of people sitting in Michigan’s prisons who pose no threat to society, have served significant time, and in many cases, are unable to…
Are you the one running the show on your organization’s social media? Do you handle website updates like a champ? Are you the go-to person for getting your cause in the news spotlight? If you said yes to any of these, check out the video of our event from Tuesday, May 7th.
West Michigan has a proud history of supporting second chances. Come out for these events to celebrate second chances and build support for second look legislation. And be sure to sign the petition below to show that people across Michigan support second chances.
On April 25th we hosted a presentation by Insha Rahman, Vice President for Advocacy and Partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice and Director of Vera Action where she discussed insights in national and Michigan research on crime and safety messaging. Discover effective strategies to shape the narrative, and beat tired “tough on crime” opposition…