Here’s a stat Michigan shouldn’t be proud of: Incarcerated people in Michigan serve, on average, the longest sentences in the nation, and these long prison sentences aren’t keeping Michigan safe.
It’s been documented that:
- Longer prison sentences don’t make us safer.
- People who are released after serving long sentences are statistically very unlikely to reoffend.
- Many in prison, especially women, are there as a result of domestic violence and/or human trafficking.
- With average prison costs of $34,000-48,000 per person, not including healthcare, Second Look offers significant savings.
- Researchers at the Ford School of Public Policy estimate savings of approximately$200M/year through Second Look.
- Money saved by reducing excessive prison sentences could be reinvested in violence prevention, victim services, and mental health.
What Is Second Look Legislation?
The Second Look Sentencing Act would provide an opportunity for
incarcerated individuals to petition their sentencing judge for a reduction of
their sentence after serving a long prison sentence and if they are deemed to
no longer pose a risk to the community.
The judge would carefully consider input from the victim, the seriousness of the original offense, the incarcerated person’s history and behavior, and any risks or benefits to society.
After a successful resentencing the parole board would also review the case prior to release.
More Information:
Stories from Second Look supporters:
Organizations that endorse Second Look Legislation:
- American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
- Citizens for Prison Reform (CPR)
- Citizens for Racial Equity in Washtenaw
- Episcopal Church of the Incarnation (ECI)
- Friends of Restorative Justice of Washtenaw County (FORJ)
- Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice (ICPJ)
- Humanity for Prisoners (HFP)
- League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI)
- Linc Up
- Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES)
- Michigan Center for Youth Justice (MCYJ)
- Michigan Citizens for Justice
- Michigan Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (MI-CURE)
- Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration (MI-CEMI)
- Michigan Conference United Church of Christ
- Michigan Justice Advocacy (MJA)
- Michigan Liberation
- NAACP Grand Rapids
- Nation Outside (NO)
- National Lifers of America, Inc. (NLA)
- National Organization of Exonerees
- New ERA in Criminal Justice
- Northridge Church
- Notes from the Village
- Open MI Door
- Power in Passion
- Proactive Grand Rapids
- Restorative Justice at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor
- Rise Up Michigan
- Safe & Just Michigan (SJM)
- State Appellate Defenders Office (SADO)
- Steps to Life, Inc.
- The Delta Project
- The Sentencing Project
- Voice of Detroit
- Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC)