With Michigan’s juvenile lifers at the center of ongoing resentencing proceedings, these cases are unfolding during a particularly politically charged time. Conversations about accountability, rehabilitation, public safety, and second chances can quickly become divided, with opinions often shaped by politics and public perception as well as the individual circumstances of each case. In an environment where it can feel easier to take a side than to consider the complexities of each, I find myself reflecting on a question that extends far beyond the courtroom: Who deserves to be fought for?

As a Reentry Specialist, this question extends far beyond court hearings. It asks me to consider where accountability ends and judgment begins. Can I disagree with someone's choices and still fight for their rights? Can I acknowledge the harm someone has caused without believing that their past should define every part of their future? I believe I can. And that’s precisely where meaningful advocacy begins.

Advocacy does not mean excusing wrongdoing or abandoning accountability. It means understanding that a person's right to fair treatment should not depend on whether we like them, agree with them, or approve of their past. It is only natural to encounter an internal battle at times when advocating for someone whom everyone else has already judged. You may question whether standing beside a person means you are defending their actions. You may even feel pressure to choose between being associated with the people society considers “good” and advocating for those it considers “bad.” But standing beside someone does not mean standing behind everything they have done. Questioning whether someone has been treated fairly does not mean dismissing the harm they caused. And believing in accountability does not require us to abandon the possibility of rehabilitation.

I have such respect for SADO attorneys who continue to advocate for their clients regardless of public opinion or the nature of their cases. Everyone deserves fair representation. For those of us working in reentry, SADO attorneys’ examples challenge us to uphold the same principles of fairness, dignity, and integrity throughout our clients’ long journeys home.

To those currently incarcerated, your civil and legal rights do not depend on public approval. Your past may be part of your story, but it should not be the only thing considered when discussing your future. To the attorneys who dedicate their work to protecting those rights, your advocacy plays an essential role in ensuring that clients receive fair treatment, even when their cases provoke difficult conversations. And to those of us working in reentry, we must remember that our responsibility is not to decide who is worthy of dignity, but to help people navigate the opportunities, resources, and protections available to them.

As a Reentry Specialist, my commitment to advocating for my clients should never depend on how difficult their stories are to tell.

Read and learn more about Project Reentry.

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