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12/17/2002: "NORML Alert - Michigan Legislature Repeals Draconian Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, December 12, 2022

LANSING, Mich. A bipartisan majority of the Michigan Senate today passed
a historic package of three sentencing reform bills n HB 5394 (H-3), HB
5395 (H-2) and HB 6510 (H-1) n that eliminate most of the stateis
Draconian mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. The reform allows
judges to impose sentences based on a range of factors in each case,
rather than solely drug weight, and replaces lifetime probation for the
lowest-level offenders with a five-year probationary period. It also
permits earlier parole for some prisoners, at the discretion of the parole
board. Governor John Engler is expected to sign the bills.

Rep. Bill McConico (D-Detroit), sponsor of the bills said, "This major
step brings fairness back to the judicial system in Michigan. The
overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation shows it is not a
partisan issue. We were able to unite Republicans, Democrats prosecutors,
judges and families in the common cause of sentencing justice. Now we can
reunite families, reallocate resources and allow judges to do their job."

William Van Regenmorter, Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, endorsed the legislation, saying, "We want to make sure the
sentence fits the crime while still maximizing public safety."

"We applaud Michigan's lawmakers for taking a principled stand on this
important issue," said Laura Sager, executive director of Families Against
Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), a nonprofit organization that spearheaded the
drive for reform. "This vote restores confidence in the fairness of the
criminal justice system. Harsh mandatory minimums, originally intended to
target drug 'king pins' have instead warehoused many nonviolent, low-level
drug offenders at a very high cost to taxpayers."

"Today is the culmination of years of grassroots lobbying efforts by
thousands of our members affected by mandatory minimums that were among
the harshest in the nation. These families brought the human face of
sentencing injustices to lawmakers and convinced member of both parties
that change was urgently needed," said Sager. "The reforms could not have
been done without FAMM," said Rep. McConico.

The bills garnered widespread support from organizations as diverse as
the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, the Michigan Judicial
Association, the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals, the
Michigan Catholic Conference, Michigan's Children, and the NAACP (Detroit
Branch), among many others.

"Michigan's prosecutors recognize that an effective drug policy is a
combination of criminal justice strategies, readily available drug
treatment programs, incarceration where appropriate, and prevention
activities in schools, businesses, and homes," said David Morse, president
of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. "That is why we
support a responsible approach to replacing the mandatory minimum
sentences for drug crimes with sentences that are appropriate for the
crime."

Members of the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals (MADCP)
worked hard for the bills. Judge Harvey Hoffman, president of the
Association, led the effort because "the bills preserve reasonable
judicial discretion while providing certainty of punishment for high-level
offenders."

Lawrence Reed, president of the free-market Mackinac Center on Public
Policy, notes that the bills are "consistent with principles supported by
the organization, including judicial discretion and cost-effective and
flexible sentencing structures. They are also part of the solution to
Michigan's skyrocketing corrections cost."

The reforms also had the strong support of former Michigan Republican
Governor William G. Milliken, who called signing mandatory minimum drug
sentences into law in 1978 "the worst mistake of my career" and campaigned
for their repeal.

In 1998, Families Against Mandatory Minimums led a successful drive to
relax the "650 Lifer Law," the toughest drug law in the nation. That law
mandated life without parole for anyone convicted of delivery or
conspiracy to deliver 650 grams or more of heroin or cocaine.

Analysis of the Michigan sentencing reform bills and updates are posted at www.famm.org.
If you are a reporter and would like to speak to Laura Sager, FAMM executive director,
other groups supporting the bills, please contact Monica Pratt, FAMM director of
communications, at (202) 822-6700. FAMM also has case profiles on Michigan
prisoners serving mandatory sentences.

Replies: 5 Comments

[email protected]">Lorrie Tindall said @ 12/30/2002 08:30 PM CST

Ihave a son in the prison system in Michigan He is from Pa. I think the sentence he received was ridicules, people who commit murder don't even receive that type of punishment.His was for drugs and received 10 to 20 years. This has been a real hardship on his family.

[email protected]">Emily said @ 12/21/2003 11:08 PM CST

Hi, my name is Emily Rees. I had never realized how bad our justice system and correction system is until someone I love went to prison. In Florida, all education programs have been cut at many correctional institutions by the new administration. We are incarcerating individuals for periods disproporionate to the crime commited and now we offer virtually no rehabilitation to help individuals better themselfs. I am an advocate against mandatory minimums and would appreciate it if you would take the time to check out my petition for further information. Thank you so much for your time and for the good work your doing and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help your organization.

Sincerely,

Emily Rees

http://www.petitiononline.com/GH1531/petition.html

[email protected]">Emily said @ 12/21/2003 11:09 PM CST

Hi, my name is Emily Rees. I had never realized how bad our justice system and correction system is until someone I love went to prison. In Florida, all education programs have been cut at many correctional institutions by the new administration. We are incarcerating individuals for periods disproporionate to the crime commited and now we offer virtually no rehabilitation to help individuals better themselfs. I am an advocate against mandatory minimums and would appreciate it if you would take the time to check out my petition for further information. Thank you so much for your time and for the good work your doing and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help your organization.

Sincerely,

Emily Rees

http://www.petitiononline.com/GH1531/petition.html

Emily said @ 05/02/2023 09:01 PM CST

Hi, i have the same name as you.. cool

Emily Rees said @ 05/29/2004 08:21 PM CST

so do i..