On December 10, 2024 the House Criminal Justice Standing Committee heard testimony on a House Bill 5957, which would remove overbroad and unnecessary restrictions on when an old criminal record can be sealed to better implement the policy goals of the Clean Slate law. Safe & Just Michigan Executive Director John S. Cooper and Clean [...]
On November 12, 2024 the House Criminal Justice Standing Committee heard testimony on a package of bills to advance pretrial reform in Michigan. Safe & Just Michigan Executive Director John S. Cooper provided written testimony and stated: "The pending bill package would eliminate cash bail in many low-level, non-violent cases while leaving the existing system [...]
On June 18, 2024, Justin Counts, former Safe & Just Michigan development fellow, provided written testimony to the House Criminal Justice Committee in support of SB 599. Parole for medically frail people allows MDOC to (1) focus on its core functions (instead of complex health care needs), (2) transition medically frail people into more appropriate [...]
On June 18, 2024, Executive Director John S. Cooper and Policy Advocacy Manager Jazmine testified before the House Criminal Justice Committee in support of SB 599. Parole for medically frail people allows MDOC to (1) focus on its core functions (instead of complex health care needs), (2) transition medically frail people into more appropriate care, [...]
On March 21, 2024, the Michigan Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety heard testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 599. Policy Advocacy Manager Jazmine Wells submitted written testimony to demonstrate support of the bill and urge committee members to do so as well. Parole for medically frail people allows MDOC to 1) focus [...]
On March 19, 2024, the Michigan House Standing Committee on Criminal Justice heard testimony on House Bills (HB) 4556-60. Executive Director John S. Cooper submitted written testimony to demonstrate support of the bills and urge committee members to do so as well. HB 4556-60 would create a process that could help make Michigan’s corrections system [...]
Leon Douglas provides testimony in support of Senate Bills 119-123 at the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on April 20, 2023. Download>> Leon Douglas Written Testimony on Senate Bill 119_123
Ronnie Waters, Safe & Just Michigan's community engagement specialist, provided testimony of Safe & Just Michigan in support of Senate Bills 119-123 at the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on April 20, 2023. Download>> Ronnie Waters Written Testimony Senate Bill 119_123
On April 15, 2021, John S. Cooper, executive director of Safe & Just Michigan, submitted written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. SJM supports this package that will make first-time drunk driving eligible for expungement, and urges the Michigan Legislature to pass H.B. 4219-20. Download>> Testimony DUI Expungement Written Testimony Apr
On December 8, 2020 Executive Director John S. Cooper submitted written testimony to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee in support of Senate Bill (SB) 1254. Cooper states in the written testimony: Safe & Just Michigan supports S.B. 1254, which will make first-time convictions for drunk driving eligible for expungement, and urges the Michigan [...]