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Committee hears support for HB 4211 to let MDOC provide reentry services to select resentenced individuals
Summary
Witnesses including MDOC and regional reentry partners supported HB 4211, which would authorize the Michigan Department of Corrections to provide documentation, transitional housing, and other reentry services to a subset of resentenced people who may be immediately discharged after resentencing; proponents said no additional state funding is requested.
House Bill 4211, introduced by Rep. Amos O'Neill (represented by legislative director Mary Frank at the hearing), would permit the Department of Corrections to provide reentry services to certain individuals who are resentenced and released, including juvenile lifers and 19–20-year-olds who may be immediately discharged. Mary Frank summarized the purpose on behalf of Rep. O’Neill. Kyle Kaminski of MDOC told the committee the department supports the bill because it clarifies authority to serve people who are discharged immediately after resentencing and said MDOC has the infrastructure to provide documentation, ID, housing referrals, and other supports using existing reentry resources and is not requesting additional funding.
Angie Sprank (West Central Michigan Works) described successful wraparound services in Region 4, including transitional housing and other supports that led to successful community outcomes for 9 of 10 assisted individuals. Priscilla Bordeo (Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice) supported the bill, saying enabling MDOC to provide documents and reentry supports makes communities safer and helps victims.
Proponents said the bill fills a gap for people who spent decades in prison and lack IDs, housing, and community supports at discharge; the chair indicated the committee would continue related work on other bills at the next meeting.
