I am trying to figure out the Michigan Parole system, as my girlfirend Angel was sentenced under "Truth in Sentencing"

ie:

if minimum sentence is completed, is release dependent on a parole board hearing or is it automatic

Your help is appreciated greatly,
Able

Hi AbleDog,

I'm not quite sure, but maybe this link could be interesting :

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7019

All the best
Phil

Hi Able. Your girlfriend will have to appear before the parole board and they will make the decision of whether to release her or not. It's a good idea to start preparing for that hearing now. Contact parolecpr@yahoo.com for assistance. They offer a parole preparation package which is pretty helpful. Good luck.

Gilly

HI Able, my fiance was also sentenced under the truth and sentencing law, He is in an Oshkosh WI prison, the way he decribes it to me is that when you are sentenced under this law, which i believe took place in 2001. that you are sentenced to a mandatory release date,and there is no parole or good time......he is sentenced to 2 yrs and has a mandatory release date of Aug,2004. they cannot keep him in any longer,............this is what has been told to him,
good luck .. let me know if you find out anything different, Merilee

In Michigan they need a parole board hearing and approval from the board. Truth in sentencing means NO GOOD TIME. They HAVE to do at least their minimum. Sorry---a new law under Engler a few years ago.

Deb

Deb,

Does this apply to crimes that happened before 2000???

Michelle

I'm unsure of the year it went into effect. But, it started after 1998.... I think it started in January 1999. Someone else may know for sure especially if it effected their loved one. I believe Michigan just got rid of it though. So new crimes wouldn't fall under this or at least some of them wouldn't. This was just done cause of the overcrowding in the last few months....

Deb

Hi there,
I believe that all crimes after Dec 2000 are effected under this law. There is talk that they are looking to reform this but I haven't been able to obtain any information on it yet. But as it stands, a person must serve their full minimum sentence.
Frenchie

unfortunately, the Truth In Sentencing law is still in effect for Michigan. For the actual statute, see State of Michigan Public Acts 217 and 218 of 1994. There is no good time, and release is subject to approval of the Parole Board.

The status of this legislation is unchanged as of this date.

(wish it was otherwise)

in peace,

Laurel (and Steve)

Wow. I thought it had changed. Different articles I've read from PNN say that Michigan has been "looking at" changing them and I thought one said they changed them. This sucks.

Deb

in regards to the question about the tis laws, my b/f was sentence under the same law in wisconsin, as i understand it there is no parole it is probation and that they must serve the full sentence, but in wisc. i know that after 1/3 of their sentence some may ask the judge for sentence reduction. but i believe that it is only for those sentenced after a certain date. so isf sentenced in 2001 like my b/f. he may not be able to write the judge. those all fall between the cracks. but it is worth a try.....good luck m

i always thought if they max out their time they have to let them out ,they can not hold them past their max out date.

I don't think they hold them past their max date, they just have to do their min date for sure, and then up to the max date if they do get flopped/not make parole unless others charges are added.

My understanding is that TIS is also dependent on whether it was considered a violent crime, my baby had a DUI (.051alc) which resulted in the accidental death of a police officer (the accident was not a result of her directly, she lost control near the median where her vehicle collided with one that another that hit the officer who was offduty attending to his own accident)...which is in itself a "special circumstance" that added 5 yrs onto her full sentence.

What I am figuring out is if this is considered a "violent" crime and how sentence reduction and the whole TIS plays into it all