Support Second Look Legislation

Second Look Sentencing Legislation is smart legislation that is evidence-based criminal justice reform. It does not open a flood gate permitting all convicted felons to be released from prison. It does not allow murderers to escape punishment. What it does is give incarcerated persons an opportunity to petition the trial/sentencing court to take a second look at their sentence, the number of years they have served, their age at sentencing, their rehabilitation, their education, and their prison misconduct history to make a determination if resentencing is earned and deserving. Second Look Sentencing Legislation is a hybrid sentencing mechanism that helps reduce mass incarceration and relieve the cost of corrections (tax-paying citizens) by allowing lifers and long-indeterminate sentenced prisoners to earn a second chance at life outside of prison. Second Look Sentencing is earned it is not just given. Second Look Sentencing Legislation allows those prisoners who are safe to release to be released and those prisoners who are not safe to release to be kept in prison. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Contact your State Representative and State Senator let them know you support Second Look Sentencing Legislation and ask that they support it also. Tell them why you support such legislation. If you have a family member or friend incarcerated that will benefit from Second Look Sentencing Legislation send your representative a picture of your loved one and tell them why your family member or friend incarcerated deserves a second chance. The time to act is now! Join us to tell all our elected officials (Governor, Lt. Governor, State Representatives, and State Senators) that Second Look Sentencing Legislation is RIGHT for Michigan.
Please contact the House Criminal Justice Committee members. Send Mail to: Michigan House of Representatives PO BOX 30014 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 Kara Hope - Holt 517.373.8900 karahope@house.mi.gov Joey Andrews - St Joseph 517.373.0827 joeyandrews@house.mi.gov Graham Filler - Lansing 517.373.1788 grahamfiller@house.mi.gov Tyrone Carter - Detriot 517.373.0154 tyronecarter@house.mi.gov Kelly Breen - Novi 517.373.2575 kellybreen@house.mi.gov Stephanie Young - Detroit 517.373.2576 stephanieyoung@house.mi.gov Noah Arbit - West Bloomfield 517.373.3816 noaharbit@house.mi.gov Emily Dievendorf - North Lansing/Dewitt 517.373.2277 emilydievendorf@house.mi.gov Penelope Tsernoglou - East Lansing 517.373.2668 penelopetsernoglou@house.mi.gov Mike Mueller - Linden 517.373.8040 mikemueller@house.mi.gov Robert Bezotte - Howell 517.373.3906 robertbezotte@house.mi.gov Mike Harris - Clarkston 517.373.0828 mikeharris@house.mi.gov Brian Begole - Perry 517.373.0853 brianbegole@house.mi.gov Joe Tate - Detroit 517.373.0857 joetate@house.mi.gov Abraham Aiyash - Hamtramck 517.373.6990 abrahamaiyash@house.mi.gov
Please contact the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary & Public Saftey members. Send mail to: Michigan State Senate PO BOX 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Stephanie Chang - Detroit 517.373.7346 senschang@senate.michigan.govSue Shink - Northfield Twp 517.373.2426 sensshink@senate.michigan.gov Jim Runestad - Whitelake 517.373.1758 senjrunestad@senate.michigan.gov Winnie Brinks - Grand Rapids 517.373.1801 senwbrinks@senate.michigan.gov Paul Wonjo - Warren 517.373.8360 senpwonjo@senate.michigan.gov Jeff Irwin - Ann Arbor/Yspi 517.373.2406 senjirwin@senate.michigan.gov Sylvia Santana - Detroit 517.373.0990 senssantana@senate.michigan.gov Ruth Johnson- Groveland Twp 517.373.1636 senrjohnson@senate.michigan.gov
Washintaw Prosecutor Eli Savit at the September 16 2023 Citizens for Second Look rally hosted by the Peoples Church of Flint Highlights. - thanks to the MICEMI for the footage.
Senator Paul Wonjo Speaking at Citizens for Second Look rally hosted by Pure Word Missionary Baptist Church July 22 2023.

Sign this petition to show your support of Second Look Legislation

Once you have signed this petition keep scrolling to learn more and keep yourself updated with Second Look related news, events and calls to action!

Soldiers Don't Cry - A Second Look Story

ART WORK BY JOHN HAMMOND CONCEPT AND STORY BY DOUG STEWART. A HUGE THANKYOU TO NADIA EL ANANI OF TARrP
Are you passionate about criminal justice reform? You want to help redeem incarcerated people to become productive citizens? Then join us at Village Second Chance!Village Second Chance is a community of people passionate about reforming our criminal justice system. We gather monthly on zoom to build relationships, support each other, and stay updated on the work being done. Anyone is welcome to join Village Second Chance. To visit, fill out this form: https://airtable.com/shrxwjfcM8UC3iuxT

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE LETTER TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR STATE SENATOR ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT SECOND LOOK SENTENCING LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN.



[YOUR FIRST & LAST NAME][YOUR STREET ADDRESS OR P.O. BOX NUMBER][YOUR CITY, STATE, AND ZIP CODE][DATE] The Honorable [YOUR STATE SENATOR'S FULL NAME]State SenatorState CapitolP.O. Box 30014Lansing, MI 48909-7514 Dear Senator [YOUR STATE SENATOR'S LAST NAME]: As your constituent and as a registered voter [STATE THIS WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR THIS STATE SENATOR OR NOT, THEY LISTEN MORE TO ACTUAL VOTERS], I'm asking you to support Second Look Sentencing Legislation [INSERT "Senate Bill No. ______" WHEN AVAILABLE] in Michigan. Senator Stephanie Chang is sponsoring this Legislation. Second Look Sentencing is smart, evidence-based criminal justice reform. It does not open a floodgate releasing violent offenders allowing them to escape punishment for their crimes. It allows the trial and sentencing judge to review a prisoner's sentence after serving years in prison to determine whether the prisoner is still a threat to society. It then allows the judge to determine whether a reduction in sentence has been earned and is warranted. This may be demonstrated by the prisoner's rehabilitation, education, conduct in prison, and health. Second Look Sentencing also allows a trial and sentencing judge to keep a prisoner in prison if they are still a threat to society. This may also be determined by their lack of rehabilitation and their continued misbehavior in prison. Michigan incarcerates men and women longer than any other state in the Great Lakes region. Keeping people in prison longer does not result in greater public safety. It is time for Michigan to rethink its antiquated lock'em-up-and-throw-away-the-key approach to crime and punishment by implementing smart, evidence-based reforms, which several other states in our country have already adopted, without compromising public safety. Most prisoners serving life without the possibility of parole (LWOP), life with parole, or long-indeterminate sentences were under the age 26 and were first-time offenders when they committed their crimes. How can anyone make the determination these teenagers, late adolescents, or emerging adults are irredeemable and should die in prison? Fortunately, new brain development science contradicts this predisposed determination of young offenders. Extremely low recidivism rates of recently released juvenile offenders, who were once sentenced to LWOP, is evidence that lifers who serve over 20 years in prison are the safest category of prisoners to release. Michigan spends approximately 2.3 billion annually on keeping people in prison. We can increase public safety by investing in our schools, vocational training, and colleges instead of prisons. In order to do this, Michigan implement smart, evidence-based criminal justice reform, and Second Look Sentencing is just that. I would like to speak to you in person regarding Second Look Sentencing. What are your office hours that you meet with your constituents? I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you. Sincerely,[YOUR FULL NAME][YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER][YOUR EMAIL]

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE LETTER TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT SECOND LOOK SENTENCING LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN.

(YOUR FIRST & LAST NAME)(YOUR STREET ADDRESS OR P.O. BOX NUMBER)(YOUR CITY, STATE, AND ZIP CODE)(DATE)The Honorable (YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE'S FULL NAME)State RepresentativeState CapitolP.O. Box 30014Lansing, MI 48909-7514 Dear Representative (YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE'S LAST NAME): As your constituent and as a registered voter (STATE THIS WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR THIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR NOT, THEY LISTEN MORE TO ACTUAL VOTERS), I'm asking you to support Second Look Sentencing Legislation (INSERT "House Bill No. ______" IF AVAILABLE) in Michigan. Second Look Sentencing is smart, evidence-based criminal justice reform. It does not open a floodgate releasing violent offenders allowing them to escape punishment for their crimes. It allows the trial and sentencing judge to review a prisoner's sentence after serving years in prison to determine whether the prisoner is still a threat to society. It then allows the judge to determine whether a reduction in sentence has been earned and is warranted. This may be demonstrated by the prisoner's rehabilitation, education, conduct in prison, and health. Second Look Sentencing also allows a trial and sentencing judge to keep a prisoner in prison if they are still a threat to society. This may also be determined by their lack of rehabilitation and their continued misbehavior in prison. Michigan incarcerates men and women longer than any other state in the Great Lakes region. Keeping people in prison longer does not result in greater public safety. It is time for Michigan to rethink its antiquated lock'em-up-and-throw-away-the-key approach to crime and punishment by implementing smart, evidence-based reforms, which several other states in our country have already adopted, without compromising public safety. Most prisoners serving life without the possibility of parole (LWOP), life with parole, or long-indeterminate sentences were under the age 26 and were first-time offenders when they committed their crimes. How can anyone make the determination these teenagers, late adolescents, or emerging adults are irredeemable and should die in prison? Fortunately, new brain development science contradicts this predisposed determination of young offenders. Extremely low recidivism rates of recently released juvenile offenders, who were once sentenced to LWOP, is evidence that lifers who serve over 20 years in prison are the safest category of prisoners to release. Michigan spends approximately 2.3 billion annually on keeping people in prison. We can increase public safety by investing in our schools, vocational training, and colleges instead of prisons. In order to do this, Michigan implement smart, evidence-based criminal justice reform, and Second Look Sentencing is just that. I would like to speak to you in person regarding Second Look Sentencing. What are your office hours that you meet with your constituents? I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you. Sincerely,(YOUR FULL NAME)(YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER)(YOUR EMAIL)



Find out more - Links to organization's second look pages/ efforts coming soon