American Friends Service Committee MI Criminal Justice Program

06/16/2025

Join our amazing organizer, LaWanda Hollister, for an event to help you learn about to build more power in your community, rooted in somatic practice!

The event will take place tomorrow, June 17th, from 6:00-8:00 PM, at The Church of the Good Shepard, 2145 Independence Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI.

This is a free event, and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!

12/19/2024

Please join us for another Women's Commutation Training on January 22nd, 2025, from 6:30-7:30 on Zoom. Join a growing community of people who are working to get women free at the Valley. Develop a strong relationship with a person at the Valley to help support them in writing their commutation and planning for their freedom more generally.

Register at https://bit.ly/CommTraining2025

12/04/2024

Yesterday morning, HB 4556-4560, the Second Look Sentencing Act, was voted out of committee and will now need to be voted on in the full house.

Now, most importantly, we need YOU to contact your legislators and ask them for their YES vote on HB 4556-4560 and SB 321-325.

Click the link below to be directed to a form to write to your state legislators. We have pre-written key information to be sent to your Reps and Senators, but have left an option to include a customized message.

Your support and action is critical in these final weeks of lame duck. Thank you for your support, and let's get Second Look Passed in Michigan!

Email Your Legislator NOW!
https://secure.afsc.org/a/pass-second-look-lame-duck?emci=8424e0be-9fb1-ef11-88cf-6045bdfe8d29&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}

11/13/2024

is a safe solution to Michigan’s prison staffing and aging prison population crises. It is essential for to pass the Second Look Act so elderly older adults can live the rest of their lives with dignity. Learn more ⬇️

In this episode, hosts Cole Williams and Joel van Kiken discuss the Second Look Act with Chuck Warpohuski and Greg Wines. They explore the racial disparities in Michigan's prison population and the potential for legislative change to promote rehabilitation and reduce long-term incarceration. Learn h

11/13/2024

Yesterday, we rallied support for , legislation that would:

✅ Reunite families
✅ Make communities safer
✅ Let disabled and older adults live their lives with dignity
✅ Give people who have grown and changed a chance to be contributing members of society

Together with the Second Look Coalition, we call on leaders to pass the Second Look Act!

11/13/2024

Yesterday, we rallied support for , legislation that would:

✅ Reunite families
✅ Make communities safer
✅ Let disabled and older adults live their lives with dignity
✅ Give people who have grown and changed a chance to be contributing members of society

Together with the Second Look Coalition, we call on leaders to pass the Second Look Act!

11/11/2024

This week, we are joining advocates and fellow Second Look Coalition members in , to urge leaders to pass the Second Look Act! We welcome everyone to join our call to action!

https://vera-advocacy-and-partnerships.s3.amazonaws.com/MI%20Second%20Look%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

10/01/2024

08/28/2024

Hello friends! We have recently released a new digital newsletter for our email subscribers. Please check the link below for our Summer Updates from AFSC's Michigan Criminal Justice Program!

Taken at the Prison Creative Arts Linkage Community performance at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July 18th, 2024. Front row, left to right: Sarah Unrath, Cozine Welch. Back row, from left to right: Claudia McLean, Pete Martel, LaWanda Hollister, Skylar Gillette, Adalia Kirby. Photography by: uptown24 stud...

08/27/2024

We ask you to join us for an evening with Care-Based Safety as they embark on a place-based pilot urgent response to harm and conflict in Ypsilanti. On September 5th from 6:00 to 7:30 at 16 S. Washington St, Ypsilanti, MI, come visit for a conversation on punishment, accountability, and second chances, as well as live music! To learn more about Ypsilanti's Care-Based safety program, click here: https://carebasedsafety.org/

03/20/2024

The House Criminal Justice Committee held a hearing for Second Look Legislation (House Bills 4556-60) yesterday morning.

"We’re talking about second chances. We’re talking about a state that says ‘we care about second chances’ and want to give redemption. It’s time for us to show that, and we can prove that by passing this legislation," - Jimmie Wilson Jr.

Tuesday, advocates rallied at the steps of the State Capitol in support of the Second Look Sentencing Act.