First
Prisoner
Released
Under
Michigan
650
Lifer
Law
Reform
2/5/99
(bulletin from Families Against Mandatory Minimums, http://www.famm.org) LANSING: JeDonna Young, the first person released under the reform of Michigan's notorious 650 Lifer Law, walked out of prison this morning (Friday, January 29) after serving 20 years in prison. The 650 Lifer Law mandated life without parole for anyone convicted of selling more than 650 grams of heroin or cocaine -- the harshest drug law in the nation. Young, incarcerated in Scott Correctional Facility, was one of the first individuals convicted under the law. During the 20 years she spent in prison, Young earned a B.A. degree, volunteered with children's visitation program, and worked as a prison paralegal. Young's parole was made possible by reform of the 650 Lifer Law by the Michigan legislature this summer. Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Michigan Project, spearheaded the broad coalition that worked to change the law. FAMM, a non-profit organization working for sentencing reform, has over 35,000 members nationally (3,500 members in Michigan). "We are thrilled that JeDonna Young is going home," said Laura Sager, director, MI FAMM. "Like so many others, Young was caught under a law designed for drug kingpins, that instead snared mostly low-level couriers and addicts --including many first-time offenders, like Young. "Further reform of Michigan's drug law is urgently needed," said Sager. "Michigan's mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses are still among the harshest in the nation. We must still eliminate harsh mandatory minimum and consecutive sentences for the lesser drug offenses, that can result in decades-long sentences. Judges need to have the discretion to use sentencing guidelines, to base sentence on an individual's criminal history, role in the offense, and seriousness of the offense." NOTE: 60 Minutes II (a new Wednesday program on CBS) will air an exclusive interview with JeDonna Young and Laura Sager very soon, possibly as early as next week. Also, this week's issue of Time magazine sums up many of the problems with mandatory minimum sentences in a detailed article titled, "A Get-Tough Policy that Failed," citing Michigan as one of many states reconsidering mandatory minimum sentences.
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