As a child, I endured years of horrific abuse at the hands of my parents, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Despite multiple investigations by child protective services, no one was held accountable for the harm I suffered. This lack of accountability led to further criminal behavior on the part of my parents, which had a negative impact on others in our community. My story highlights the importance of holding individuals responsible for their actions and the potential consequences of failing to do so. It also underscores the need for a more effective child welfare system that can identify and address abuse and neglect in a timely and effective manner.

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**Petition to Change Sentencing Guidelines for Child Abuse and Neglect Offenders in the State of Michigan**

We, the undersigned, call upon the authorities in the State of Michigan to review and revise the current sentencing guidelines for child abuse and neglect offenders. Children are the most vulnerable members of our society and deserve to be protected from harm and abuse.

The current sentencing guidelines for child abuse and neglect offenders do not adequately reflect the severity of the crimes committed against innocent children. We believe that stricter penalties and longer sentences should be imposed on those who perpetrate such heinous acts.

Therefore, we urge lawmakers in the State of Michigan to make the following changes:

1. Change misdemeanor charges of child abuse and neglect to felonies.

2. Revise the CPS registry to add habitual Substantiated CPS investigations.

3. Implement mandatory sentencing of those convicted to no less than 24-48 months per charge to run concurrent for child neglect and/or endangerment convictions, classifying the charges as a low-level felony with an additional 12 months of probation.

4. Enforce mandatory sentencing of a minimum of five years for Child Abuse convictions to run consecutive to each charge as well as a minimum of 24 months of probation, classifying this offense as a higher level felony.

5. Classify ANY and ALL charges of child abuse resulting in death as FELONY Murder with a minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment to run consecutive to ALL counts.

By signing this petition, we stand united in our commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable for their actions in the State of Michigan. Together, we can create a safer world for our children.

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