Sorry, Second Look sidetracked! Who’s at fault?

Michigan prisoners had high hopes for “Second Look.” Sadly, the prospects aren’t all that great anymore. Who’s to blame? 

The Second Look Sentencing Act, approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee last year, would have allowed individuals who have served at least 20 years to petition their original court for a sentence reduction. Those convicted of criminal sexual conduct, terrorism, mass shootings and certain domestic violence cases would remain ineligible. 

Naturally a bill like this would have a lot of interest, especially among old-timers behind bars. But, it should also be of interest to you and me. For example, Michigan’s average prison sentence length is roughly three times the national average. Our state leads the nation in the proportion of its prison population serving sentences longer than 10 years. But here’s where it affects your pocketbook and mine: It costs Michigan about $5.5 M per day to run our Department of Corrections! 

Three fine prisoner advocates recently wrote a compelling op/ed piece in the Detroit Free Press. Jeffrey Morenoff, Noah Attal and Peter Martel wanted the public to know more about this proposed bill. 

As the writers correctly put it: Second Look legislation is not about being soft on crime — it is about being smart on justice. It recognizes that justice is not static, and people can change over decades. The legislation ensures that victims have a meaningful role in the process, offering opportunities for closure and accountability. 

At first, we thought this sensible idea had a real chance. Then, last year, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, refused to bring it to a floor vote after it was passed by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Then, in January, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Marshall, announced that for the next two years, all criminal justice reform legislation would not move forward under his leadership. That statement, as well as the concept, is sickening. 

Freep: Second Look has broad appeal across the political spectrum. Many conservatives support it because it aligns with fiscal responsibility, reduces government waste and prioritizes resources for those who truly pose a public safety threat. Progressives back it because it reflects fairness, dignity and the belief in human potential for redemption. Refusing to act on Second Look harms Michigan’s economy, its corrections system and its communities. It exacerbates staffing shortages, worsens conditions for both incarcerated individuals and prison employees and perpetuates a system that is expensive and ineffective.  

So, where do we go with this frustration? Certainly, some of the blame goes to our state legislators. But let’s face it: These men and women didn’t get appointed to office. They were elected! You and I are among those who chose to put these people in office. As my daughter bluntly puts it: “What the hell did you think would happen when you voted for that person? 

Before casting our ballots, it’s imperative that we find out where these candidates stand on issues that are important to us, not what political party they belong to! 

"Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters."

- Abraham Lincoln