Sentencing Commission wins funding

The Michigan Legislature finalized a budget deal with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month. Included in that budget is $750,000 for the new Michigan Sentencing Commission, which was signed into law by the governor earlier this year.

Safe & Just Michigan was a key advocate in favor of establishing the commission. It will build on the work of Michigan’s former Criminal Justice Policy Commission, which disbanded in 2019. While the Sentencing Commission will be new in Michigan, at least 17 other states and Washington, D.C., have similar bodies. These commissions are tasked with making sentencing recommendations and reducing disparities in sentencing.

Safe & Just Michigan Executive Director John Cooper praised Legislature's $750,000 appropriation for the new Michigan Sentencing Commission. “Michigan has not had a Sentencing Commission since its sentencing guidelines were enacted in 1998. The Michigan Sentencing Commission will provide the data, research, and policy expertise the Legislature needs for the oversight and continuous improvement of Michigan's sentencing system. We believe the Commission can play a key role in making Michigan safer and more just, and in reducing corrections costs for taxpayers. This funding will allow the Commission to hire staff and begin building toward these goals.”

Get legislative updates at our annual meeting

Safe & Just Michigan invites you to participate in our Virtual Annual Membership Meeting on November 13, 2025, from 6-7pm. This is an opportunity for you to get legislative updates, hear a forecast for the coming year and ask questions, as well as participate in our board elections.

Participation is free and open to anyone who is interested in furthering criminal legal reform in Michigan. To join us, simply register at bit.ly/SJM2025meeting to get a link to our upcoming meeting.

The Safe & Just Michigan team always keeps in mind the needs, ideas and opinions of our supporters as we continue our work. Joining us at our Annual Membership Meeting is one way that you can learn what our priorities are for 2026 and have a say in our leadership.

Help amplify Inside Voices

Inside Voices is a written by justice-involved people currently incarcerated in Michigan prisons that is published in our hardcopy newsletter. While space in the printed newsletter is limited, we are able to post more of them online for everyone to read. If you would like to encourage someone who is incarcerated to submit a letter, please tell them they can send a letter of 300 words or less on criminal justice reform, pending legislation, re-entry or related topics to Inside Voices, c/o Safe & Just Michigan, 119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 2A, Lansing, MI 48912. To learn more, visit us at www.safeandjustmi.org. If you would like to join our efforts, email us at info@safeandjustmi.org or sign up for our newsletter at bit.ly/sjmsignup.

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