The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) estimates that as many as 850 people under their supervision are medically frail. Medically frail people are unable to perform basic tasks of daily living without assistance and are often unable to get dressed, use the bathroom, or eat on their own. These people are so frail that they [...]
The Senate package is a set of criminal justice bills spearheaded by John Proos (R – Saint Joseph), with a number of legislators as sponsors of individual bills. The package was quickly passed on February 2 in the Senate within two weeks of being introduced. Click here to read CAPPS full analysis of the Senate Package. The House Michigan [...]
Download>> HB 5273: Judicial veto bill written testimony We are extremely grateful to all the organizations and individuals who submitted testimony in support of the "judicial veto" reform bill. This is an important step forward for a long overdue reform. Details about the bill HB 5273, sponsored by Rep. Dave Pagel (R-Oronoko Twp.) eliminates the [...]
On February 17, the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve an amended package of medical parole bills, HB 5078, 5079. and 5081. The full House of Representatives voted out the three CAPPS-supported bills on May 4, 2016. The bills were then referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where they are still pending after an initial "no" [...]
Senator John Proos (R - Saint Joseph) is spearheading an 18-bill package of criminal justice reforms. The multi-bill “Proos package” was introduced on May 3 and referred to the Senate Committee on Michigan Competitiveness, chaired by Senator Mike Shirkey (R-Jackson). The Senate voted the entire package out by broad majorities in June 2016. The bills are [...]
Download>> HB 5078, 5079, 5081 written testimony After passing the House by an overwhelming bipartisan 95-13 vote, the medical parole package stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 24. Republican Senators Colbeck, Shuitmaker and Rocca cast the three “no” votes on the five-member committee. However, the Committee also agreed to reconsider the vote at [...]
In November, HB 5078-5080 were introduced in the House of Representatives and sent to the Appropriations Committee, which would allow the parole board to grant medical paroles to people who are physically or mentally incapacitated. The bills, sponsored by Reps. Pscholka, Pagel, and others, establish the process by which the parole board can consider and [...]
Juveniles | June 23, 2010 By Barbara Levine, Executive Director, Citizens Alliance on Prisons & Public Spending Excerpt from the testimony on House Bills 4518, 4594, 4595 and 4596, introduced in 2009 to address juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) reforms: “CAPPS strongly supports the elimination of life without parole sentences for any teenager. However, we [...]
By Mike Reagan, president, Association of Substance Use, Conditions, Prevention and Treatment Providers Organization (ALSAO), March 2010 From the testimony: “The tragedy is that we know how to stop spinning this costly and inhumane revolving door. It starts with acknowledging the fact that addiction is a disease for which evidence-based prevention and treatment programs exist [...]
In 2009, the Council of State Governments's (CSG) Justice Policy Center provided a range of policy options for Michigan policymakers. CAPPS opposed many of these recommendations. You will find our critique of the Council of State Governments's report in the materials and testimony below. Read>> Policy options to deter crime, lower recidivism, and reduce spending on corrections [...]