As the Michigan House Criminal Justice Committee met to discuss bills that could reduce prison sentences for those with life convictions, several legislators have risen in opposition.
Who is sponsoring these bills?
House Bills 4556-4560, sponsored by Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt), Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint), Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. (D-Ypsilanti), Rep. Donovan McKinney (D-Detroit) and Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) could allow those sentenced to life in prison to request a shorter sentence after serving for 10 years.
Republicans rise in opposition to bills which could affect nearly half of the state’s prison population.
Rep. Graham Filler (R-St Johns), serves as the minority vice chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee and opposed the package of bills, which has been nicknamed “Second Look” which was discussed in committee on Tuesday.
“The last thing we need is a new plan to make our communities less safe and force crime victims to relive their most traumatic experiences,” said Rep. Filler, “The one solace victims of violent crimes have is knowing they are safe as long as the person who hurt them stays behind bars. Suddenly releasing thousands of these offenders back onto our streets will put these innocent people through hell while making the rest of us live on edge. Sometimes I have to wonder who we’re trying to serve at the state Capitol.”
Rep. Filler said that the bills are to improve the lives of Michigan’s worst criminals, “not to make our state safer.”
“A lot of thought has been put into Michigan’s sentencing laws over the years to make sure our most dangerous criminals stay behind bars for at least a set minimum number of years,” Rep. Filler said in a statement. But this plan would undo those long-standing laws and tilt everything in favor of the criminals and against the rest of us. That’s not how our criminal justice system is supposed to work.”
Rep. Mike Harris (R-Waterford), a retired police sergeant and law enforcement member for 26 years, also rose against the legislation on Tuesday.
“Heinous crimes deserve severe punishment, and long — sometimes lifetime — prison sentences keep our communities safe from violent murderers and rapists,” said Harris in a statement. “This radical legislation could allow even the most dangerous criminals back on the streets early. This would be a grave injustice against victims and the people of Michigan. The extreme proposal threatens people’s safety and peace of mind and burdens the law enforcement officers responsible for ensuring public safety. I stand with victims and Michigan residents against this dangerous attempt to undermine our justice system.”
According to Rep. Harris, the bills would permit more than 7,450 murderers, 3,700 people convicted of criminal sexual conduct, and 1,800 armed robbers to seek a lower sentence after 10 years in prison, including 540 murderers, 343 sexual offenders, and 241 armed robbers convicted in Oakland County. Across the state, more than 5,100 murderers would be immediately eligible to request a lower sentence.
In the bills, it would also allow for criminals to repeatedly request a lower sentence every two to five years even if initially denied.
“Violent criminals inflicted unimaginable harm and trauma on their victims,” Harris said. “Under this extreme legislation, criminals can make repeated, baseless requests for a lower sentence — triggering more rounds of filings and hearings and forcing their victims to relive their trauma over and over again. Crime victims and their families deserve better.”
Supporters for the bill package elaborate on meanings of justice.
One of the groups supporting the bill package, Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP), a national group working with prosecutors to promote a justice system “grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.”
“We believe that second look reforms such as Michigan’s House Bills 4556 – 4560 and Senate Bills 321 – 325 are an integral part of promoting justice and fairness,” FJP said in a statement. “Too many members of our communities are aging in prisons, often serving sentences far longer than they would receive for comparable conduct today. And many of them can safely return to our communities and deserve to be considered for an opportunity to come home.”
Former prisoner John English, now a parolee in Washtenaw County, was released in 2023 after serving 40 years, after being resentenced as a Juvenile under the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling, following an initial first degree murder conviction.
“As for me personally, I spent 2/3’s of my life in prison for committing a crime as an 18 year old,” he said in a statement. “I was arrested in May of 1983, and released from prison on November 21, 2023. I went in at 18 years of age and was released at 59 years of age. I had completed many, many classes and self-help groups to rehabilitate myself. However, I could never get the Parole Board’s attention.”
English also highlighted the aging prison population.
“Lets face it, our prison population is getting older and more expensive due to aging prisoners who are no longer a threat to society because they have aged out of crime,” he said.
Next steps for the bills in committee.
While the committee took up the bills for a discussion on Tuesday, they did not vote on them.
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