Two methods for replacing outdated laws in Michigan are being employed in order to address massive overcrowding in the state prisons. For the past decade the legislature has been heavily resistant to passing criminal justice reforms, like HB 5666, claiming it’s “too controversial” to touch. The majority of Michigan law makers are seemingly more comfortable with the high coronavirus infection rates, killing dozens of helpless people behind bars, than being vocal about the essential need for change. In addition to failed good time legislation in house, law-makers also failed on the senate side with no movement on SB 1142 or SB 1143. The failure to address the cruelly severe conditions in the state prisons extends beyond the failure to repeal TIS laws.
Select legislators have introduced reform bills like SB 0262, which would have terminated marijuana related sentences; SB 0831, which would have established an oversight committee at the women’s prison; HB 6528, which would have restricted the cost of telephone calls for people in prison, among many others related bills never even made it through committee. There are some persistent lawmakers who haven’t given up on introducing reform legislation during this 2022 session like Legrand’s HB 4488 and Bolden’s HB 4489 both reintroducing good time credits; as well as Sarah Anthony’s HB 5336, allowing people in prison to register to vote and Thanedar’s HB 5760 which would freely provide feminine hygiene products to women in prison. Unfortunately, like what we’ve seen repeatedly for reform legislation, none of these bills have gotten a chance to be voted on in committee.
Realizing this organizers have taken prisoner human rights related issues into the hands of the people to pass with the 2022 Good Time Initiative. The fight for good time won’t end until Truth-in-Sentencing is no longer the law of the land. With substantial progress in the movement this year, Michigan United has completely taken on the good time initiative, housing and funding the campaign that was launched at the end of February with coverage from corporate media outlets like Fox 2 Detroit. Similarly to the campaign in 2020 canvassers need nearly 350,000 signatures, but organizers are seeking to collect half a million in order to guarantee the addition of the issue of the repeal of TIS on the November ballot. The collection of the minimum required amount of signatures would allow Michigan voters to opportunity to make a huge impact on prison overcrowding in Michigan departments of corrections.
For those who supported the good time initiative in 2020 the petitions language is virtually identical, also allowing for time to be reduced from one’s sentence for good behavior as well as taking educational classes and maintaining employment. These types of time off incentives are incorporated into corrections departments on the federal level as well as the county level in Michigan, evidence the policy is one accepted by the state as practical, however there’s a huge gap when it comes to approximately 40,000 individuals incarcerated in our states prison system that needs to be closed. In order to do this initiative petitioners are getting creative with their campaign this time around. Rock Your Block events captured signatures with door-to-door canvassing in neighborhoods across the state throughout the month in order to give individuals the opportunity to promote the initiative among their own local communities. Faith communities are also getting more heavily involved this time around with Redemption Sunday services being hosted in over two dozen churches on April 3rd and many offering their locations up as signing points scattered across the state.
Good Time legislation will pass in Michigan, but how much more time will we allow to be wasted before that happens? The answer the that question is literally in our hands, with the power of a pen we can ensure that voters have the opportunity to make that decision this November. For those interested in supporting critical reforms check out how to set up a signing point in your area, register to volunteer or simply request a petition to be mailed to you. With all of these methods to engage with the campaign, the only reason we wouldn’t see this effort move forward is you.
