Michigan has an opportunity to remove some of the most common barriers people face after incarceration.
The ID Upon Release bill package (5474, 5475, 5476, 5477) would ensure that people coming home post-incarceration have the identification documents they need to find a job, rent an apartment, and open a bank account.
The Reentry Services bills (HB 4211/ SB 592) would ensure that people released following age-related resentencing decisions receive the same reentry services available to individuals released on parole.
These proposals reflect a simple principle: people should not leave prison without the tools they need to succeed. By expanding access to vital documents and strengthening reentry services, Michigan can help remove unnecessary barriers, support successful reintegration, strengthen public safety, and create stronger communities across the state.
No single action can address the confluence of factors that create the current crisis, but decarceration is a vital first step. Michigan cannot safely and humanely house our current prison population. Tell Governor Whitmer to use her executive clemency power to safely reduce Michigan’s prison population and read below for additional ways to address the current crisis.
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What Needs to Happen
MI-CEMI has been working with patterns to identify short, medium, and long-term actions. We are still building consensus on final goals, but here are some of the actions that have emerged.
Short-Term Priorities: Reduce overcrowding, improve healthcare access, and establish trusted mold testing and remediation processes at WHV.
Medium-Term Priorities:Strengthen independent oversight of MDOC, pass Survivor Justice legislation, and prioritize leadership focused on rehabilitation and decarceration.
Long-Term Priorities: Advance resentencing legislation and reduce excessive prison sentences that contribute to overcrowding and unsafe conditions.
Providers across Michigan spend enormous time navigating barriers to meaningful prison programming: staffing shortages, inconsistent access, communication gaps, policy limitations, volunteer burnout, funding instability, and uneven opportunities between facilities.
But what if we stepped back from the day-to-day barriers and asked a larger question? If Michigan truly prioritized rehabilitation, healing, growth, and transformation — what would programming actually look like?
Thursday, June 18, 2026 12:00–1:30 PM ET Virtual on Zoom
Employment is one of the most critical components of successful reentry, but access is not equal. Too often, those leaving prison face stigma, policy barriers, and a lack of support when trying to find meaningful work.
MI-CEMI’s Reentry Table, Employment Opportunities & Pathways to Work, brought together advocates, workforce development leaders, and community members for a virtual conversation focused on employment barriers, workforce development, and real solutions that help people rebuild their lives.
