The Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration (MI-CEMI), which serves over 115 member organizations working to improve public safety and end mass incarceration, established the following policy priorities for 2025–2026. These priorities were shaped through deep collaboration among justice-impacted leaders and organizations across the state, reflecting a range of political perspectives, lived experiences, and roles in the criminal legal sector. Michigan’s criminal legal system demands sweeping change. But experience has shown that without clear focus, urgent efforts can lose power. By aligning around these shared priorities, our movement aims to concentrate its energy where we can make the greatest impact and build momentum for broader transformation.
Prevent Incarceration and Improving Public Safety
Provide Youth Defense [PRIORITY]: Expand Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include defense services for youth in the juvenile justice system.
Establish Police Improvement Policies [PRIORITY]: Establish statewide policies to improve police practices such as strengthening training requirements, specifying required use of force elements, limiting the use of no-knock warrants, and tracking separation records.
Reduce Pretrial Detention: Implement a court date notification program through SCAO to improve attendance at court dates, reduce use of bench warrants, reduce pretrial detention. Work with local units of government to pilot additional policies to reduce use of wealth-based detention.
Protect Restorative Justice: Establish state policies to increase statewide access to restorative justice processes in court and community-based settings by protecting the privacy of the content of restorative justice proceedings.
Fair Youth Interrogation: Prohibit the use of deceptive interrogation practices against minors.
It’s been five years since the murder of George Floyd sparked a national reckoning. While some reforms have been proposed or enacted, many communities in Michigan are still asking: Has anything truly changed?
On Wednesday, May 28 from 12:00–1:30 PM, join us for a special Michigan Statewide Violence and Incarceration Prevention Learning Community session focused on police accountability. We’ll hear from grassroots organizers, community leaders, and policy experts about what’s working, what still needs to change, and how we can collectively push for better systems of safety and justice.
This session will be moderated by Michael Taylor and will include space for questions, dialogue, and resource sharing.
💡 This is part of MI-CEMI’s Learning Community, a first-of-its-kind statewide space designed for those advancing efforts in restorative justice, police accountability, reentry, violence intervention, and incarceration prevention across Michigan.
At MI-CEMI, we believe that quality programming inside Michigan’s prisons is a cornerstone of both rehabilitation and dignity. That’s why we created the Prison Programming Providers Table—a quarterly space for educators, advocates, and organizers working inside to share resources, improve programming access and quality, and engage with advocacy efforts to address prison policy issues.
Our next virtual gathering is coming up on Tuesday, May 13th from 12:00–1:30 PM EST on Zoom, and we’d love to see you there.
This session will focus on one of the most important—and sometimes overlooked—aspects of the work:
How do we get inside, build meaningful relationships, and maintain healthy boundaries?
We’ll be joined by featured panelists:
Mark Hartman, Executive Director of Humanity for Prisoners and a formerly incarcerated advocate
Paul Draus, University of Michigan Detroit Center, Inside/Out Program
Other speakers will be announced soon.
We’ll also leave plenty of time for open discussion—because we know many of you are navigating these challenges in real time.
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.
📅 Thursday, May 15, 2025 🕛 12:00–1:30 PM ET 📍 Online (Zoom link will be sent upon RSVP) 📩 RSVP today
🎤 Speak Truth. Build Power.
This 90-minute session will help you develop the skills and confidence to speak with impact—whether you’re testifying at a public hearing, talking to the media, or posting on social media.
Participants will learn how to:
Frame your message and demands with clarity and confidence
Respond to tough or hostile questions while staying grounded
Communicate your story across different media platforms
Combined with the People v. Poole ruling (affirming resentencing rights for 18-year-olds sentenced to mandatory LWOP), this means that over 800 individuals are now entitled to resentencing under Michigan law.
WHAT’S NEXT: Key Information from SADO
SADO has identified all 582 impacted individuals from the Czarnecki and Taylor rulings.
An informational sheet is being sent to each person via MDOC (likely through JPay).
A detailed letter outlining next steps and including the full court opinion will follow shortly.
Attorneys will be appointed. If they don’t have one yet, they will.
Please do not file anything on your own. It’s best for them to wait for the appointed attorney to guide the process.
Be patient. This is a large group, and many have been waiting for decades—help is coming.
Prepare for success. Stay misconduct-free, participate in programming, and take care of your health.
We will continue to share updates and resources as this process unfolds.
