Detroit Today: State Sen. Stephanie Chang looks to reduce Michigan’s prison population

Mass incarceration is a problem everywhere in the U.S., but it’s taken a particularly strange and problematic turn in Michigan.

That’s because the state is now home to one of the oldest prison inmate populations in the nation. This creates a lot of challenges for Michiganders. The cost of housing and taking care of older inmates go up as their healthcare needs rise. And because people age out of crime, there’s often little reason to be incarcerating someone for a long time as they age beyond 40.

There are several lawmakers who acknowledge these issues and are working to decarcerate much of Michigan’s prison population.

State Sen. Stephanie Chang recently sponsored the Second Look Sentencing Act, which allows prisoners the chance to petition to reduce their sentence after serving at least 10 years if they are determined not to be a threat to society.

Chang joined Detroit Today to discuss the details of the Second Look Sentencing Act.

Listen: State Sen. Stephanie Chang talks proposed bill to reduce prison population

Guest

State Senator Stephanie Chang is a Democrat representing Michigan’s 3rd state Senate district, which includes parts of Detroit and its northern suburbs. Chang recently sponsored the Second Look Sentencing Act to reduce to state’s prison population. The lawmaker says she’s not sure how many people will be released from prison if this bill becomes a law.

“Overall, we know that there are just so many people in prison…that are really old, not a danger anymore, and really just deserve to have this second look,” says Chang.