Michigan State Representative Dave Prestin recently spoke out against a plan to allow the most violent offenders to reduce their prison sentences. In a 90-minute hearing, the committee chair only allowed nine minutes of testimony from opponents of the bill, none of whom were crime victims – even though numerous victims attended the meeting to testify. Representative Dave Prestin says, “we examine the consequences when law and order is obstructed or when bad activity is incentivized or ignored.” And this is just another chip off that old block. This is introducing a very dangerous element that’s currently incarcerated in Michigan back into communities.”

Prestin says, “one of the bills to come out of the House before we adjourned was a bill that they actually made it a hate crime.”

Prestin noted the bills would allow over 7,450 murderers, 3,700 people convicted of criminal sexual conduct, and 1,800 armed robbers to seek a lower sentence after 10-years in prison. Prisoners serving life sentences make up over one-third of those eligible for release under the proposal. More than 5,100 murderers would be immediately eligible to request a lower sentence. In counties represented by Representative Prestin, more than 50 criminals convicted of murder or criminal sexual conduct would be eligible for early release.