Recommendations Push for Shift in Michigan’s Sentencing Policies

Last month, the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center released a report that analyzed Michigan’s sentencing guidelines and made recommendations on how the state could save money in the process. The report identified areas in which the state could improve its felony sentencing system while reducing recidivism and cutting costs.

The Justice Center presented their findings on July 1st to a variety of stakeholders in Michigan, asking for comments and suggestions. These are the conclusions from their report:

Findings and Recommendations

1. Finding: People with similar criminal histories convicted of similar crimes receive significantly different sentences.
   Recommendation: Structure sanctions in the guidelines to produce more consistent sentences
2. Finding: After a person is sentenced, it remains unclear how much time they will serve.
   Recommendation: Make the length of time a person will serve more predictable at sentencing.
3. Finding: Supervision resources are not prioritized to reduce recidivism.
   Recommendation: Use risk of re-offense to inform probation and post-release supervision.
4. Finding: High recidivism rates generate unnecessary costs.
   Recommendation: Hold people accountable and increase public safety for less cost.
5. Finding: Funds to reduce recidivism are not targeted to maximize effectiveness of programs and services.
   Recommendation: Concentrate programming on those programs to most likely reduce recidivism.
6. Finding: Policy Makers and Practitioners do not have an effective mechanism to track sentencing and corrections outcomes.
   Recommendation: Monitor changes to state’s sentencing practices, along with their impact.
7. Finding: Data currently collected do not sufficiently measure victimization or reform to the extent which restitution is collected.
   Recommendation: Survey levels of statewide victimization and track restitution collection.

You can view the all of the report’s presentation materials here.

Research Methods

The research for this report was extensive and included the following:

• 7.5 million records from 10 databases representing more than 200,000 individuals
• 15 site visits in Michigan
• 100+ meetings and 150+ conference calls
• 6 presentations to MLRC
• 10 presentations to prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, victim advocates, sheriffs, and county officials

More on the Issue

Rep. Joe Haveman: Michigan Must Rethink Corrections Spending

More Resources and Information about the CSG Report

Posted by MCCD on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014 @ 10:31AM
Categories: Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, Sentencing and Parole Reform