Prisons

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether the state’s felony murder standard is constitutional. We have more from Rick Pluta.

New state reports out Thursday are listing concerns with three of Michigan’s prisons. Colin Jackson has more.

The Eastern Michigan University Undergraduate Research Symposium will feature incarcerated students enrolled in the school's "College in Prison" program in a first-of-its-kind occasion in Michigan. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

Inmates in Michigan’s only prison for women are suing the state Department of Corrections. Colin Jackson has more.

Some long-term Michigan prisoners have been hoping that the Legislature would pass a package of bills that could give them another chance at freedom. But as Colin Jackson reports, the time to pass Second Look legislation has all but run out.

A plan to allow Michigan corrections officers access to the State Police Retirement System passed the Michigan Senate Wednesday. Colin Jackson has more.

After serving thirty-five years of a life sentence, the only thing Leroy Harris wanted to do was teach children how to avoid making the same kinds of mistakes. But he didn't have the confidence to set his goals in motion. He later turned to occupational therapy through the Ypsilanti-based organization “Life After Incarceration: Transition & Reentry,” or LAITR (sounds like “later”). Today, Leroy is not only starting his own business to help troubled youth but also sits on LAITR's board of directors. Leroy shared his story with Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.

As you might imagine, those who are returning to the community after a period of incarceration face a good deal of prejudice and discrimination. That makes finding a job difficult and can result in higher recidivism rates. Billy Cole and Bryan Foley are working to not only change that but are trying to de-escalate community violence by addressing trauma and other factors that lead to incarceration. Billy and Bryan head an organization called Supreme Felons, and they share their personal stories that led them to professionally try and keep people out of the cycle of incarceration with WEMU's David Fair.

One of the lesser discussed facts of prison life for women is the number of children who born into those circumstances. The Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility is right in our backyard and there is a movement underway to make a difference for incarcerated women and the children they give birth to. It's called the Michigan Prison Doula Initiative. WEMU's David Fair learns more about the program and the difference it's making in his conversation with the initiative's board chair, Kate Stroud, and program director, Cara Genisio.

A bill to expand access to medical parole in Michigan is going to the governor. Colin Jackson has more.