Safe & Just Michigan's report, “The Problems of Mandatory Sentencing: The troubling legacy of Michigan’s felony firearm law,” supports the passage of House Bills 5993-5994, which would end the mandatory two-year sentence for a first offense felony firearm conviction, and urges further action to roll back mandatory sentencing. Key findings from the report include: Black [...]
The newsletter reports on policy updates, outreach and educational activities, and new SJM staff members. Download>> SJM Newsletter Summer 2020 Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive the SJM e-newsletter on the latest legislative actions.
Michigan grants voting rights to most people otherwise qualified to vote regardless of their criminal record. The only people ineligible to vote based on a criminal record are people who are currently incarcerated and serving a sentence. That means that that people who match the following descriptions ARE ELIGIBLE to vote: People who are formerly incarcerated People [...]
In January 2020, the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration issued a list of 18 legislative action items that — if enacted — could revolutionize Michigan’s county jails and the lives of the people who come into contact with them. The first wave of legislation to implement those recommendations was released in June 2020. This first [...]
To learn more about Automatic Expungement also referred to as ‘Clean Slate’ legislation, read Safe & Just Michigan’s one-page fact sheet (updated June 3, 2020). Download>> Clean Slate Legislation Fact Sheet Updated June 3, 2020
The newsletter reports on policy updates, outreach and educational activities, and new SJM staff members. Download>> SJM Newsletter Spring 2020 Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive the SJM e-newsletter on the latest legislative actions.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU), together with Safe & Just Michigan and the American Friends Service Committee, are urging the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and the state’s 83 county sheriffs to protect the health of the people in their custody and their staff by adopting proactive, evidence-based plans to appropriately prevent [...]
Michigan grants voting rights to most people otherwise qualified to vote regardless of their criminal record. The only people ineligible to vote based on a criminal record are people who are currently incarcerated and serving a sentence. That means that that people who match the following descriptions ARE ELIGIBLE to vote: People who are formerly incarcerated People [...]
In January 2020, the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration issued a list of 18 legislative action items that — if enacted — could revolutionize Michigan’s county jails and the lives of the people who come into contact with them. The task force drafted their recommendations after holding six meetings across Michigan. Testimony was gathered from [...]
Officials with government agencies and private organizations told stakeholders at a Thursday summit that by working together they can better help more formerly incarcerated individuals get back on their feet and lead more productive lives. More funding, whether from government or private sources, would also help according to those sitting on a panel during the [...]