Episode 2 | When Is Enough Enough | Michigan's Second Look Legislation

The Drumbeat with Josie & Pete

Hosts Josie Ann Lee and Pete Martel discuss the Second Look legislation in Michigan, which would allow judges to revisit sentences for long-serving prisoners. Currently, Michigan has a high percentage of people serving sentences of 10+ years and an average sentence length three times the national average. Second Look would give judges the opportunity to reduce sentences, potentially saving the state billions of dollars and alleviating racial disparities in the justice system.

Guest Drummers, Noah Attal a data analyst, shares research showing Michigan's outlier status in sentencing and the potential cost savings and reduced racial disparities that Second Look could bring. Ronald Simpson-Bey, a formerly incarcerated person and advocate, shares his personal experience and the transformative power of Second Look for both incarcerated individuals and victims. He emphasizes the importance of humanizing people impacted by the justice system.

The episode highlights that Second Look is not about releasing all prisoners but providing an opportunity for judges to reconsider sentences based on individual circumstances and rehabilitation. The discussion emphasizes the need to shift the narrative around criminal justice reform, highlighting the potential for cost savings, reduced racial disparities, and positive community impact. It concludes with a call for greater advocacy and collaboration to push the legislation forward, emphasizing the power of hope and the positive changes it can inspire within the prison system.