Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on September 7, 2005

Click here to view bill details.

I think this is great. It will help with overcrowding, as well as, give prisoners a reason to behave. It should be passed

Our prisons are extremely overcrowded and this is an excellent plan. You are also right in saying it will help encourage good behavior. I was shocked to find out that Michigan has the worst case of overcrowding....this should tell us that something needs to be done and I think we have found the solution!

It’s pretty clear Michigan has been on an incarceration and prison-building binge for the past 25 years. Our prison population tripled between 1980 and 2003, and in a comparanble period the population at large grew well less than 9 percent. That means our prison population increased something like 33 times (or more) as fast as our general population. Other stats to ponder in this are that Michigan ranks 6th (among the 50 states) in total prison population and 8th in general population; ranked 4th in the amount of money in its prison budgets (2003); 3rd in the percentage of total state budget for corrections (about 16 percent -- 2003); and about one third of all State workers are employed by the Department of Corrections. HB 5130 presumably would help relieve prison overcrowding by eliminating “provisions of prison code relating to disciplinary time;” and broadening “applicability of good time and disciplinary credits” in parole eligibilty considerations. That may may make it a step in a more positive direction. But it’s also becoming clear the legislature should reconsider some its “tough on crime” acts that have broadened the definition of "crime," increased penalties and imposed mandatory sentencing, all of which most likely contributed heavoily to explosive growth in Michigan’s prison population to begin with.

This is a great idea. It will help with overcrowding in the prisons and give the prisoners something to work towards and hope for a GOOD future.

I think that bill 5130 that is being proposed is an excellent bill. Unfortunately, there have been prior legislation in regards to prisons an good credit that have passed without the input from the people of this State. It is unfortunate that it seems as though Corrections is the largest economic industry in Michigan. Don't get me wrong, this fact will ensure that I always have a job, but individuals who should be allowed good credits while in prison. Good credit could minimize the rate of negative prison behavior. It would also decrease the cost of incarceration to the citizens of this State. Individuals who earn good credit would have a chance to become productive members of society rather than a drain on the economy. I support this bill and believe that it should be retroactive as well.

I think this bill should be passed because it would help with the overcrowding of the prisons and because the parole board aren't doing their job as they should.

I feel it will eleviate overcrowding and encourage prisoner rehabilitation. This is because the prisoner has beeen rehabilitated and wants to do what is right in societies eyes. Life has meaning for self and family.

I believe that the prisoners sholud be allowed Good TIme and get rid of the "Truth in Sentencing" law. We should reward inmates that deserve it. Give them something to work for. Most of these inmates have been rehabilitated just by being in prision. "Scared straight" is the term I like to use. If an inmate has not received any tickets or merrits for any type of behavorial mattters, the ideal inmate, then they should be rewarded for that. I never agreed with the "Truth in Sentencing" law.

I believe that this Bill is the best idea Michigan has come up with in years. Michigan is known for its over crowding in the prisions, I belive 33% increase in the past 7 years. It is also costly to the tax payers. I never agreed with the "Truth in sentecing" law. I believe that an inmate that has no disciplinary problems within the facilities should be rewarded for that. It would also incourge good behavior among the inmates. Give them something to work towards. In everyday lives people/americans are rewarded for the good they do. Inmates are still people/americans so they should be treated as if. THey have not lost their rights due to incarceration. Again I am all for House Bill 5130

I agree with getting rid of the Truth in Sentencing law.For those prisoners that have been on good behaivor during thier stay should be rewarded and my tax dollars should get some relief

I agree...that the over crowding in the prison has reached its limits...They are closing down prisons and placing prisoners in other already over crowded prison. By passing the Good Behavior Bill this would let prisoners that have been flopped on the parole out and give others comming up for parole a chance on getting out because they have been model prisoners. I know the state likes flopping prisoers cause of the money...but its not right for the model prisoner in for a lesser crime....Thanks you for hearing me on this matter...God Bless

I agree 100% with this HB5130-I have a brother who has been incarcerated for 37 months of a 5 year sentence. He is a first time non violent offender and a model prisoner. His wife and daughter need him home and he has a loving and supportive family waiting. He was sentenced under Michigan's Mandatory drug law and his punishment did not fit his crime. I am pleading with everyone to consider this bill.

This bill needs to go forward. Whether in prison or not, good behavior is best served by reward. Encouragement and support is what keeps us all going. The ones that don't do right by this will find their way back to prison,just as those of us in free society will fall again if we fail to recognize our mistakes. We can't keep condemning those who make honest efforts to do right after past mistakes. We all need to see that our efforts in correcting past mistakes do make a difference.

I would love to see this pass. My son is in prison for another mans crime, and this would help him come home to us and it would help othe inocent men

I think hat this bill should definetly be passed! If the prisoners are actually trying to better themselves and are being a model prisoner, they should be rewarded.

I believe this is one of the best measures that can be taken to help alleviate some the issues of overcrowding. But does anyone actually know how long it will take to pass, or where it is in the process? How can we track it's progress?

To my understanding this is our solution to the problem. Conditions are put on these inmates, like programs prior to being considered for parole. When their review comes up, programs aren't completed there is more time added to their ERD. This is caleed a Flopp or Deferal. THe State of Michigan does not have enough staff to be able to give these programs to inmates in a timely manner.Nor the funds! If this Bill is passed then inmates will be released and then they can take classes on their own as a condition upon release. Let them spend their own money instead of the tax payers money. To answer the prior question, the bill has been passed to a committe. It is not on the Legislater agend for 2005. Why I don't know. I've called several different Representatives. I've even emailed Mr Cushinberry who introduced it.I have gotten no where. If anyone knows anything more please e-mail me by clicking on my name.....Loving Wife

Sorry this is in addition to last reply, I also beleive that 5130 would give the Inmates that haven't had any misconduct problems a reward. Something to work towards. If anyone can give anymore information on the issue. That would be helpful......Loving Wife

This bill should be passed for a couple of reasons. The first being that tax payers are tired of paying extra taxes because they want to lock someone away for life, such as drugs. This doesn't eliminate the problem. It creates another problem. The second reason would be that the prisoners deserve some kind of incentive.

Yes, we should give Good Time credit for model, non-violent offenders. It is a great way to reward the inmates for their efforts to reform and it is a tax burden relief for us.

I agree; it should be retroactive

Amen to that. I have a brother in a similar situation. He is a long time addict who needs treatment, but he was recently sentenced to prison - first time - for 9 years! An unbelievable amount of time for a non-violent drug addict. To top it off, he is not receiving any form of drug addiction rehabilitation. He is, however, a model inmate - no tickets, working a job within the institution, etc. Yes to good time and out with truth in sentencing!

I highly recommend to the house and senate to pass such a measure. The overcrowding and lack of funding to build more institutions, this sounds like the way to go. Those in prison that remain solid and well behaved desire to come home earlier. Thanks for reading this.

I believe this should pass for all.. Violent or non-violent. Violent offenders should have conditions put upon them when leaving. The same conditions that are put on them in prison. Violent Control classes. Assultive Offender Program, etc.... The problem is that right now MDOC does not have the money to hire enough staff or theraphist to give these inmates these classes but it has been made a condition upon their parole. Which they end up getting denied because they haven't finished these classes because they are not made available to them because our Govener has cut the budget for our Michigan Deaprtment of Corrections....Some one come up with something please..For the taz payers and the inmates....Missing/loving him

Inmates get long sentences for being a 1st time offender. They don't offer classes and the ones they do offer and need to take for parole conflict with their work schedules. However, when they are up for parole they look at if they are working. How can you work and take classes that are both required for parole when they don't make it possible for them. Something is seriously wrong. Has anyone noticed that the more we take God out of our country the more problems we are having? People in prison need help, locking them up and throwing away the key does not solve the problem. They need help and only Jesus Christ can help them. We continue to try to do this on our own and we clearly can't! We need to put God back into our schools and in our country so we can have hope, joy and peace in our lives. I minister to people in prison and MOST of them are hurt, lost and just want to feel loved. IT IS LOVE THAT MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND, do you see that in our society? I can only pray that we open our hearts and minds to doing things God way before His wrath comes on us. God Bless You all!!!!!!!

Their are tremendous amount of prisoners who have been in prison for a long period of time. It is time to let them out on good behavior. Our prisons are over populated and are taking huge amounts of money from the education of our children. Releasing prisoners on good behavior is a great idea and should be done immediately. There is no reason to keep these guys/women in prison. Releasing them has to be the smartest thing to do. The prisons can then be less populated and more money can go into the enhancing the minds of children.

I don't know that good time credits would affect the release of a prisoner sentenced on a mandatory minimun, but I have to think that the two are directly related. Mandatory minimuns have a direct effect on overcrowding. Even mandatory minimum sentenced prisoners can learn thier lesson. As in the rest of life, blanket statements are unfair, so are blanket sentences.

Barring the complete overhaul the corrections system needs, good time credit is a step in the right direction. I'm a firm believer in being proactive rather than reactive. This country is the height of reactivity, from terrorism to education, from the prison system to natural disaster. How can we as a nation be so concerned about the price of tea in China (sarcasm because I'm trying to be nice) when our structure is breaking down around us. Send your child to school so he/she learns to function but don't pay teachers enough to care whether they succeed or not, sentence prisoners to a mandatory minimum but don't identify and offer help to that troubled kid BEFORE he decides to take the "easy" way out, eg. drugs, robbery, fraud, etc. We need to take a long hard look at ourselves and realize who we're really hurting. Prisoners can be reformed before the State says they should be, and they should be allowed to become productive members of society. As it apppears to me, we need all the help we can get.

Totally agree; everyone deserves a second chance!

What is the definition of insanity...doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Michigan seems to stay stuck in the insanity zone. We would rather cut schools then allow a prisoner second chance. Have we ever stopped to think that maybe the lack of education or the lack of opportunities is the reason many of these people end up in prison? Give them something to work for!

my husdands been in for 13 years now. he went in prison one month after he turned 17yr old he got a 4 -15 year sen for something he did when he was 15-16 years old.We've been to the parole broad 6 times and every time they denied him on stuiped things.He did everything they have asked of him classes, group, work, school and he even good good reports from his boss's,gaurd's,counsler's.There making him max out. I pray to god they pass this bill that way my husdand can come home.In the world today it takes 2 incomes to make it. I know i work full time, go to school full time and rasie our child by myself. It would be wonderful to have him home to take some stress of me and if anyone know's when it's to pass please post it.

Everyone deserves a 2nd chance and the one's that learned from being in prison won't go back and people need to realize's is no one is perfect but we has humans make them for one reason or another. we are not to judge thats god's job.I can say i have seen frist hand that the justice system is not always right or follow there own law's.They make deal or mislead u into something they know won't happen.Then lie to u to cover it up.I agree that the bill 5129,5130,and 5131 need to be pass if anyone know's when it go's to the house or senate let us all know

My son has been in prison since he was 17 years old and has been sentenced 40-60 years in prison. It is time for him to be released.There are many people now a days creating all kinds of crimes, but are not sentenced this maximum sentence.There is no reason to have a juvenile locked up this long. This law can help us in many ways by releasing these prisoners we can leave space for the true criminals while at the same time put money back into our school system. The over populated prisons have cause problems. There are so many people locked up for the little things there is barely any room for the criminals who are really hurting the society today. This law should be passed immediately. I am not saying the prisoners who will be let out if this bill is passed should just be free, but I believe maybe they should be on parole or put under house arrest for a couple of years, but there is no reason to keep them locked up for this long. Please post if this bill will be posted. Thank you!!!!!

when michigan adopted the truth in sentenceing they didn't realize that it would be such a boondogle. with truth in sentenceing the convicted has to do the minumum time. which causes many to be locked up longer then need be. my daughter is in for 36 months to fifteen years. first offense ! non assultive crime. she hopefully will be out in june after doing the minummum. her lawyer told her she would only do a year. that wasn't the truth. a woman at her facility is in for the same crime and only received a year. go figure !!!

you must understand that if everyone is let out of prison, the guards won't have a job. resulting in unemployment.plus the parole board not having anything to do. not to mention all the buildings idle. i don't think that people in this inner circle care that much about who it effects. it's just a job, and a very easy one at that. good luck to you and yours.

I am praying that this will pass and bring many home to their families. There are many wives and kids w/out their daddies and husbands. The men need to be home so they can be the providers that they were called to be. Again i am praying that the lord will make this bill come to pass

This bill should be passed immediately. There are many people without fathers as well as brothers, uncles and so forth. This bill can help society in more way than one.Please pass this law for not only the sake of over crowded prisons but for the sake of the world and our school systems.

What can be done to help this bill be passed? Is there any way society can have an influence on when this bill can be passed? I am a very concern citizen who wants to help this bill be passed immediately. I am a concern mother who son has been locked up since he was 17 years old and I am troubled by the possibility that this bill may not be passed. This law can help not only me but many others in the world as well as our school system. Please consider passing this law and keep me inform about how everything turns out. I really would like to hear your comments on how and when this bill will be passed if possible. Please pass this law. Thank you very much.

I think that prisoners should get early released dates.