Justice & Safety are under attack in Michigan. If you believe that 1st-degree convicted killers belong in Prison for Life Without Parole (LWOP) and all violent offenders, having done harm to others, should serve at least their minimum sentence as mandated in Michigan's Truth in Sentencing law, PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION NOW.

Recently proposed legislation in three separate sets of Michigan House Bills 4160-4164, 4556-4560, and 4450-4453 is under consideration by the Michigan House Criminal Justice Committee. All aim to undermine or eliminate LWOP and Truth in Sentencing laws.  All prioritize leniency and early release for guilty offenders over the justice promised to innocent victims of violence, the detrimental impact on their families, and the safety of the general public. 

In Michigan, an LWOP sentence means Life in Prison Without Parole. LWOP is Michigan's automatic sentence for first-degree murder convictions. Michigan's Truth in Sentencing law requires offenders to serve at least their minimum sentence in prison before being considered for parole. These sentencing laws provide the only form of justice accessible to victims of murder and other violent crimes, as well as their families and friends. They offer a sense of certainty that allows time for healing. Moreover, they ensure that heinous killers and other violent offenders do not pose a threat to public safety while incarcerated.

TO: The Authors, Sponsors and Co-sponsors of Michigan House Bills 4160-4164, 4556-4560, and 4450-4453 and all House Criminal Justice Committee members who are in support of these bills. 

As citizens, your constituents, and members of the public, we firmly express our opposition and refusal towards these bills and any other prospective laws that aim to circumvent, repeal, or abolish the Life in Prison Without Parole (LWOP) and Truth in Sentencing Michigan laws.

Innocent murder victims had their lives brutally taken. We who remain suffer deep and lifelong trauma over horrific events of which we had no control. We ask that you show respect for victims and co-victims of any kind of violence and stop the assault on their mental health with continued traumatization and let them have and keep the justice they were promised and deserve. Please draw the line at violence and outright killing when crafting legislation for leniency of offenders. Respect our Truth in Sentencing law and rehabilitate and incentivize offenders to set their minimum sentence as a goal to be reached and never below that. Please do not make the innocent pay the bill for the leniency sought for the guilty. 

We ask all of the members of the Michigan House Criminal Justice Committee to table these bills. 

Click here to read key points of opposition in proposed bills

Click here for Mich Legislative Search by Bill Number

Or  CLICK THE RED "SIGN THIS PETITON" BUTTON TO SIGN NOW!  (Skip any request for donations, and just sign and share, please.)

VOMV - Voices of Murder Victims