Michigan’s Second Look Sentencing Law: Ending Life Sentences and Overincarceration Begins Now

A mother in Detroit holds a photo of her son, now a middle-aged man who has spent most of his life behind bars rather than in his community. Convicted at just 17, he grew up in Michigan’s prison system, caught in an endless cycle of punishment. At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, families like hers gather at the Michigan State Capitol to call for a system based on justice and compassion. They are seeking reforms and demanding a transformation in Michigan’s approach to sentencing.

Michigan’s prison system is one of the harshest in the country. The state ranks fifth in the nation for life sentences, and the impact on Black Michiganders is staggering. More than 40 percent of people incarcerated in Michigan prisons are over the age of 60, and many of them will likely spend their final days behind bars. With the fifth-highest life sentence rate nationwide, Michigan’s prison population tells a striking story about the state’s addiction to long-term incarceration. The numbers reveal the depth of Michigan’s sentencing problem: More than half of Michigan’s prison population is Black, but Black people make up only 14% of the state’s total population. 65% of those who were young when sentenced were black. It’s no secret that this system has failed, but it has unquestionably harmed Black communities.

Tuesday’s rally centers on the Second Look Sentencing Act, a bill that offers a new path forward for incarcerated people in Michigan. The legislation, supported by more than 76 percent of Michigan voters, would give people who have served at least 20 years in prison a chance to petition for reduced sentences, as long as they are no longer considered a risk to public safety. The bill is intended to offer a lifeline to those transitioning over time and relieve an overcrowded, under-resourced prison system.

Excessive sentencing of black people in the United States is not a new phenomenon. For decades, the system has disproportionately targeted Black communities, giving Black individuals harsher sentences and longer sentences than their white counterparts for similar crimes. This disparity isn’t just an old statistic in dusty criminal justice reports; It is a reality rooted in policies that punish black bodies more severely, creating intergenerational trauma that extends beyond prison walls. From Jim Crow to mass incarceration, America’s justice system has often been a tool of control and punishment rather than equality and redemption, especially when it comes to Black Americans.

It is chilling to acknowledge that the same injustice exists in our own backyard in Michigan. Black Michiganders make up more than half of the state’s prison population, even though they make up only a fraction of the total population; Young Black men are overwhelmingly represented among those sentenced to decades in prison. This is not a distant, abstract topic; this is our reality. The system’s dominance over Black lives is not just a national trend, it’s happening right here in Michigan’s neighborhoods, homes, and families. This crisis of disproportionate sentencing shows how racial disparities have become entrenched in our state, affecting not just individuals but entire communities, and leaving a lasting mark on families who have lost loved ones to seemingly never-ending sentencing.

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is facing a staffing crisis that has left its prisons dangerously understaffed. With more than 1,000 vacant correctional officer positions, some facilities are operating at less than 60% of staffing needs. This shortage puts both officers and incarcerated people at risk and limits access to rehabilitation programs. The Second Look Criminal Code would provide a way to safely reduce the prison population by freeing up resources for better staffing and program support.

Lawmakers supporting the Second Look Criminal Code point to its widespread support. Rep. Abraham Ayash, one of the bill’s sponsors, believes communities in Michigan will be safer when resources go to rehabilitation, not punishment. Another supporter, Sen. Stephanie Chang, emphasizes that long sentences tear families apart without making Michigan safer. Supporters include Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. and Senator Rosemary Bayer.

While some argue that longer sentences create a safer society, the data tells a different story. Research consistently shows that long prison sentences have no meaningful deterrent effect on crime. As people get older, they give up criminal behavior; This is a well-documented trend that holds across all research. Most people who engage in criminal activity during their teenage years stop committing crimes by the time they reach their late 30s. But Michigan continues to spend billions of dollars on a prison system that holds people well past the ages who are likely to re-offend. Focusing on punishment rather than rehabilitation costs Michigan taxpayers and diverts funds from education, mental health services, and community programs that could actually reduce crime.

The Black community in Michigan has borne the brunt of these harsh sentencing policies for generations. The system has alienated fathers from their children, sons from their mothers, and left entire communities without role models and support systems. Second Look The Criminal Code offers a chance to change this legacy. A bill that is in line with the values ​​of fairness, justice and transformation. That’s why families, advocates and community leaders are coming together today. They do not want tolerance; They want balance, a system that recognizes people’s ability to change.

Second Look The financial argument for the Criminal Code is also strong. Michigan’s prison system costs billions of dollars each year, and most of those expenses go to housing older individuals who are less likely to reoffend. Research shows that investing in mental health services, job training, and community programs will have a greater impact on public safety than spending on long-term incarceration. This bill could direct resources to these preventive measures, support community stability, and reduce crime more effectively than lengthy sentences.

Organizers coordinated a Digital Day of Action, encouraging supporters to share their stories and demands online using the hashtag #SECONDLOOKMI. This digital effort aims to amplify voices from across Michigan, allowing those who cannot attend in person to show their support and call on their lawmakers to take action.

For Michigan’s Black community, the push for Second Look legislation represents more than policy reform. This is a chance to begin repairing the harms of the system that disproportionately impacts Black families and neighborhoods. Second Look The Criminal Code is a call to believe in people’s capacity for change. This is a demand that Michigan prioritize justice that values ​​people, not just punishment.

As the mob gathers at the Capitol, the hope is clear: Michigan has an opportunity to set a new standard for justice. By enacting the Second Look Criminal Code, the state can begin to restore trust and unity in communities that have borne the brunt of harsh sentencing practices. This rally marks the beginning of a journey toward a Michigan that values ​​second chances, redemption, and compassion.

Second Look The Criminal Code offers a chance to correct past injustices. It provides a way for people who have served their sentences to prove that they are ready to contribute positively to society. Families, advocates and community members are here because they know Michigan deserves a justice system that works for everyone. This Act is a step toward the vision of a Michigan where justice guides policy and where communities, not just prisons, are built and sustained.

About Post Author

Ebony JJ Curry, Senior Reporter

Ebony JJ is a veteran journalist with an extensive background in all aspects of journalism, with an emphasis on impactful stories that highlight the advancement of the black community through politics, economic development, community and social justice. He serves as a senior correspondent and can be reached via email: (email protected)
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