{"id":7147,"date":"2024-05-07T14:31:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T18:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/irwin\/?p=7147"},"modified":"2024-05-14T13:42:53","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T17:42:53","slug":"safer-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/irwin\/2024\/05\/07\/safer-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Jeff Irwin Introduces Bipartisan Safer Michigan Act to Reduce Future Crime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
Productivity Credits are proven strategy to reduce recidivism and prepare people who are incarcerated to return to their communities<\/i><\/div>\n
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LANSING, Mich. (May 7, 2024) \u2014 Sen. Jeff Irwin<\/b> (D-Ann Arbor) has introduced Senate Bill 861<\/a><\/span> as part of the Safer Michigan Act (SB 861<\/a><\/span>–864<\/a><\/span>), a bipartisan package of bills that will establish Productivity Credits, a proven safety strategy. Productivity Credits are designed to make Michigan safer and to more effectively invest our tax dollars in proven strategies that reduce crime, address the needs of current victims, and reduce the number of victims in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cProductivity Credits incentivize prisoners to rehabilitate and lead meaningful lives after their time is served,\u201d said Sen. Irwin<\/b>. \u201cThe Safer Michigan Act will enable rehabilitation programs that are proven to reduce recidivism while also requiring additional safety measures to be put in place for past victims of crime. I\u2019m proud to stand by thousands of crime victims, as well as law enforcement, business leaders, and faith groups in Michigan, who have already voiced their support for the Safer Michigan Act.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery Michigander deserves to live and work in a safe community; this is especially true for those who have been victims of crimes in the past,\u201d said Sen. Roger Victory <\/b>(R-Hudsonville), lead sponsor of SB 862. \u201cIt is critical that we preserve the rights of crime victims to know how long their perpetrators will serve before they can become eligible for parole. At the same time, we must proactively improve prisoner rehabilitation to reduce repeat crime and make our state safer for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProductivity Credits that incentivize people in prison to complete rehabilitation programs benefit everyone,\u201d said Sen. Erika<\/b> Geiss<\/b> (D-Taylor), lead sponsor of SB 863. \u201cBy helping people become connected to, rather than marginalized from, the communities they\u2019re returning to, we create safer neighborhoods. The Safer Michigan Act prioritizes the concerns of crime victims by giving them a voice in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we are going to reduce crime, we must stop repeat crime,\u201d said Sen. Ed McBroom<\/b> (R-Waucedah Twp.), who is the lead sponsor of SB 864. \u201cPrisoners who complete Productivity Credits are better prepared to return to their communities as engaged, employed members of society who do not re-offend and create new victims. This program offers a strong incentive to complete programming that has been proven to reduce reoffending.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the people in Michigan\u2019s prison system will be returning to their communities and families. The question is whether they will return better or worse, more likely or less likely to reoffend. The Safer Michigan Act would help reduce reoffending and prepare people sentenced to prison for return to their communities.<\/p>\n

Productivity Credits only apply to future sentences and ensure that victims are notified every step of the way. They are not applied retroactively.<\/div>\n