The bill allows eligible prisoners to be placed in non-medical facilities, such as their own homes, provided they wear an ankle monitor. The governor’s office said about the bill, “This aligns with Gov. Whitmer’s prioritization of criminal justice reform by promoting humane treatment for corrected individuals, which can lead to better outcomes for both prisoners and the broader Michigan community.”

Financial and practical impacts.

MORE NEWS: Detroit School’s Office of Inspector General Uncovered $3.5M in Fraud in 2023-24

The newly signed law also seeks to alleviate the financial burden on Michigan’s prison system by shifting the cost of care to Medicaid or other insurers. This approach is intended to reduce the strain on the state’s General Fund.

State Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), who sponsored the bill, emphasized the importance of this measure, stating, “When Michigan passed the Medically Frail Parole statute in 2019, the state signaled a pragmatic intention in the Dept. of Corrections that acknowledges and understands that people who are medically frail don’t pose a threat to public safety.”

Despite the original law’s good intentions, it faced unforeseen issues, limiting its effectiveness. According to the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), only one person has successfully received medical parole under the 2019 act, with additional cases under review. The new legislation aims to resolve the unforeseen issues, providing clearer guidelines and expanded eligibility for medical parole.

Controversy and concerns.

While the bill has garnered bipartisan support, not all lawmakers are in favor. Some, like Senator Ruth Johnson (R-Holly), raised concerns about the inclusion of mental health conditions in the criteria for medical parole. Johnson attempted to amend the bill to remove this language, arguing it could lead to potential abuses of the system.

Despite these concerns, advocates like Maria Goellner, director of state policy for Families Against Mandatory Minimums, believe the legislation includes sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse.

“Somebody cannot come forward and say, ‘Hey, I’m feeling down because I’m imprisoned. You know? Release me, I’m medically frail.’ That is not what this is intended for,” Goellner clarified.

MORE NEWS: Give a Pet a Home for the Holidays at Michigan’s Reduced-Fee Adoption Event

On the flip side, regardless of their health, victims and their families cannot be pleased that the prisoners who harmed them are not serving their full prison terms that they believe they deserve.