Juvenile Lifers

Question asked:
What is your position regarding the state having adequate resources for the transitioning into the community of those released? 

​Thank you letters sent to Elected Official Responders below:
Michigan Elected Officials: Governor Rick Snyder (R), Senator Geoff Hansen (R), Representative Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) ​

Thank-you letter:

MceZ Core Principle for October is JUSTICE.

Open letter
October 26, 2016

Subject: Juvenile lifers 

Dear Representative Hovey-Wright: 

Inasmuch as I am unable to find a copy of my original Thank you letter, please accept this Thank you for your response on May 25, 2016 to my letter of May 24, 2016 attached below. I would also like to Thank you for your service to the 92nd district. 

Regards, 
Lurlean M.
Policy and Disclaimer Statement
www.MceZ.org

Original Letter sent:​

The MceZ Core Principle for May is Excellence 

Open Letter 

May 24, 2016

Subject: Juvenile Lifers

Dear Governor Snyder:

The Muskegon Chronicle article, “Juvenile Lifers,” April 3, 2016, stated the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2012 the, “juvenile lifer,” sentence was, “cruel and unusual punishment,” striking down state law, and in January (2016) justices said the ruling was retroactive opening the door to re-sentencing hearings and the possibility of parole in more than 350 cases. My question to you as an elected official is: 

What is your position regarding the state having adequate resources for the transitioning into the community of those released.

Thank you for giving this question your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Lurlean Martin
www.MceZ.org

From Governor Rick Snyder

May 24, 2016

Dear Lurlean,

Thank you for your recent submission to Governor Snyder’s Office. The Governor appreciates constituents taking the time to contact his office and has asked that I respond on his behalf. 

Governor Snyder believes that individuals who are incarcerated should be developing skills so when they are released from prison they can return to the community as productive members of society. Governor Snyder believes that we can create a safer, stronger Michigan if when offenders return to their communities, they earn a job and become productive members of society-- instead of turning back to a life of crime. "We have to do better at preparing these individuals for life outside those walls so they can return to their communities as productive members of society," Governor Snyder said.  Governor Snyder has called for reforms to the way that correctional facilities prepare individuals for life after incarceration in an attempt to prepare these people to be functional and law abiding citizens upon release. 

Thank you, again, for taking the time to share your concerns with our office.  Should you have any further comments, questions or concerns regarding this or any other state-related matter, I’ve included my contact information below.
 
Sincerely,
 
Christine Nelson
Constituent Relations Representative
Executive Office of Governor Rick Snyder
517.335.7858

From Senator Hansen

From: The Office of Senator Hansen
Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2016 10:23 AM
Subject:MDOC Prisoner Re-entry

Lurlean,
 
Thank you for contacting my office to share your thoughts about the Department of Corrections and recent Supreme Court decisions.  I appreciate your insight to these matters.
 
I understand your concerns about state resources and programs for released prisoners transitioning back into the community.  It is important that the legislature continues to work together to ensure a sufficient allocation of these resources for existing programs to receive sufficient funding.  

Currently, there are a few programs that provide significant aid with this transition.  Goodwill Industries' Prisoner Re-entry Program provides various services, programming, support, and supervision for prisoners re-entering the community.  The Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Program connects state departments, local elected officials, and human services agencies to coordinate services and support systems for the returning prisoner and the community.  Upon release, the Prisoner works with the Community Treatment Team, Parole Agent, and other members of their support system to ensure mental health follow ups, stable housing, and successful employment.  The participants for these programs are referred by the Michigan Department of Corrections Parole Board. 

It is imperative that we assist those re-entering the community so that they can be productive members of our society.  Ensuring that the existing programs receive adequate funding, along with examining any other potential needs that are not currently being addressed, will be of utmost importance as the legislature responds to the recent Supreme Court decisions. 

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts about this topic.  Please feel free to contact my office with any future questions or concerns at 517-373-1635.
 
Sincerely, 
Goeff Hansen
State Senator, 34th District