Senate Approves Sen. Geiss’ Bill for Parole of Medically Frail Inmates

Today marks a significant step forward in Michigan’s journey towards a more humane and effective criminal justice system. Senate Bill 599, sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), has successfully passed the Senate. This bipartisan legislation addresses the urgent need to provide compassionate care for terminally ill inmates, allowing them to spend their remaining days surrounded by loved ones rather than in prison medical facilities. The bill is designed to allow eligible parolees, defined as “medically frail” with a life expectancy of under 18 months, to be released to approved placements where they pose minimal threat to society. “Parole for medically fragile prisoners not only grants terminal patients the dignity to live out the end of their lives in a more suitable, ethical environment, but it is also a practical solution that will allow the Michigan Department of Corrections to focus its resources where they are most needed,” said Sen. Geiss. This legislation is about compassion and it’s about making our criminal justice system work better for everyone. Senate Bill 599 is a technical fix to the 2019 Medically Frail Parole statute, which has only resulted in one parole in five years. Safe & Just Michigan supports SB 599 because it...