New safety solutions
Unnecessarily lengthy terms of incarceration break apart families and communities, making it more difficult for people to succeed after their release. Research shows that Michigan keeps people incarcerated far longer than the national norm due to harsh sentencing and parole policies. This wastes lives and taxpayer dollars.
Research also shows that increased investments in prevention, job readiness, and public health strategies are more effective than needlessly long prison sentences. Communities need services, such as mental health and substance abuse services, and programs that help address trauma, that help stop the underlying causes of crime, keep families together, and make communities safer.
Many incarcerated people and their families’ welcome in-prison educational programs that focus on accountability, restorative justice, and increase the chance of success after release. Incarcerated people and their families are important partners in the move to develop policies that effectively promote public safety while reducing prison spending. They understand the criminal justice system its impacts on individuals and communities, its strengths, and opportunities for effective change in ways others often cannot.