I certainly hope that this one doesn't just sit in the committee.
the last time it passed the house and then went on to the senate, where it sat for committee review.
The senate judiciary committee is Senators Kuipers (C), Cropsey (VC), Sanborn, Patterson, Stamas, Whitmer (MVC) Clarke, and Basham
and we all know that Kuipers and Cropsey are NOT pro prison reform. And they will do everything they can to undermine a possible return of what an inmate used to be able to do.
The revisions in this bill DO NOT guarantee an inmate parole, they do offer an inmate the ability to a FAIR review.
I've been at a few parole hearings and it is like the inmate is on trial again, again, and again.
In all honesty, it won't make much difference if this passes if the parole board does not change its behavior.
In recent months the inmates that are being granted parole have been granted parole before, in some cases several times. It is what you call a "revolving door". But, that is ok, because it guarantees that prison workers will be employed.
When a person is tried by a prosecutor, found guilty by a jury/judge, and then sentenced by a judge to a specific amount of minimum to a maximum number of years, their job ends. Well, one would think so. In a lot of cases, the judge and/or prosecutor contacts the parole board to PERSUADE them to not parole the inmate. And they don't. Aha! A second sentence. Even if the inmate is remorseful, corrected the behavior that got them there, taken ALL and then some, required programs, got good work reviews, etc., IT DOESN'T MATTER.
No matter what tools the parole board uses, their decisions will still be the same. "This is the way we have always done it", seems to be a mantra here in Michigan. One which already has gotten the auto companies in deep trouble. And now we hear about how the state budget is at a critical point. It wouldn't be if the parole board and the legislators would do their job and quit running for office every single day of the year.
Kuipers and Cropsey both represent areas where there are a number of prisons, which in turn employ LOTS of voters. They should really concentrate on diversifying the job market in their areas and not be so dependent on one employer, sound familiar (automotive).
It will choke you in the end.
And if they don't do something about releasing people from prison when they're supposed to, they may suffer the same fate as California, where the Federal Courts have stepped in and MADE them release people.
You go Michigan!