EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.

A few things about Michigan prisoners and our state prison system that you may not know:

1. Michigan’s average prison sentence length is roughly three times the national average.
2. Michigan leads in the proportion of its prison population serving sentences longer than 10 years.
3. It costs Michigan about $5.5 million per day to run our Department of Corrections.

It’s time we talked about this.

Three fine prisoner advocates recently wrote a compelling op/ed piece in the Detroit Free Press. Jeffrey Morenoff, Noah Attal and Peter Martel wanted the public to know more about a proposed bill: The Second Look Sentencing Act. This proposed legislation, approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee last year, would allow individuals who have served at least 20 years to petition their original court for a sentence reduction.

Now, don’t get the wrong impression here. Those convicted of criminal sexual conduct, terrorism, mass shootings and certain domestic violence cases would remain ineligible.

We agree with the three writers of the Freep story: "Second Look legislation is not about being soft on crime — it is about being smart on justice. It recognizes that justice is not static and people can change over decades. The legislation ensures that victims have a meaningful role in the process, offering opportunities for closure and accountability."

At first, we thought this sensible idea had a real chance. But then, last year, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, refused to bring the Second Look Sentencing Act to a floor vote after it was passed by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Then, in January, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Marshall, announced that for the next two years, all criminal justice reform legislation — including the Second Look Sentencing Act — would not move forward under his leadership.

The points explained by the three prisoner advocates, who know what they are talking about, apparently make no impact on our state politicians.

1. The average prison sentence in Michigan was 6.3 years. Today, it has doubled to 12 years, excluding more than 4,400 people serving life sentences.
2. There is clear evidence that older individuals are far less likely to reoffend. The Freep article: "Second Look has broad appeal across the political spectrum. Many conservatives support it because it aligns with fiscal responsibility, reduces government waste and prioritizes resources for those who truly pose a public safety threat. Progressives back it because it reflects fairness, dignity and the belief in human potential for redemption."

It’s very easy for us, after reading the conclusion of these guys, to then complain about the politicians. Let’s face it. Refusing to act on Second Look harms Michigan’s economy, its corrections system and its communities. It exacerbates staffing shortages, worsens conditions for both incarcerated individuals and prison employees and perpetuates a system that is expensive and ineffective.  

I’m not proposing that we let the politicians off the hook on this extremely important matter, but I am suggesting that you and I take a look in our mirror.

These men and women who serve in our state legislature didn’t get appointed by some “higher up” in our government. They were elected! You and I, our friends and fellow citizens, chose to put these people in office. Yes, the politicians deserve criticism here … lots of it! But, the blame lies squarely on the voters. As my daughter bluntly puts it: “What the hell did you think would happen when you voted to put that person in office?”

Before casting our ballots, it’s imperative that we find out where these candidates stand on issues that are important to us. Voting for a candidate because that person belongs to a certain political party makes no sense at all. That, in part, is how these things happen. 

"Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters." ~ Abraham Lincoln

— Doug Tjapkes is the founder of Humanity for Prisoners, a prominent Michigan prisoner advocacy agency with offices in Spring Lake