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Governor Rick Snyder has laid out several proposals for reforming the criminal justice system in Michigan.
Snyder is calling for inmates to be paroled from prison once they reach their earliest release date if the Department of Corrections determines they have a high likelihood of succeeding outside of prison.
The governor also called for setting a 30-day cap on incarceration for the most common types of probation violations.
Both proposals require legislation.
Snyder is calling on the Legislature to eliminate redundant and outdated laws that penalize citizens for minor infractions, leaving them with a lifelong criminal record.
He also wants lawmakers to examine the possibility of placing terminally ill and elderly prisoners serving life sentences in settings that could be more cost effective, given the high cost of medical care for the state to treat them.
The governor presented his message during a visit to Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, where prior offenders manufacture auto parts and often transition to permanent employment at vehicle parts suppliers throughout Wayne County.
