Safe & Just Michigan

From the May 2025 Criminal Defense Newsletter

Watch the recording of our livestream to see how we can improve driver’s license restorations

Last month, we let you know about a new study we’ve released that outlines simple steps the state could take to make the driver’s license restoration process simpler, more affordable and easier to navigate. The study, “Driving on a Suspended Livelihood: An analysis of Michigan’s license restoration process,” can be found at bit.ly/SJM-DL.

Soon after, we hosted a livestream to discuss our findings. Detroit Justice Center Senior Staff Attorney Rubina Mustafa and Michigan Department of State Chief Legal Director Khyla D. Craine joined a panel with Safe & Just Michigan Clean Slate Program Manager Kamau Sandiford. SJM Executive Director John S. Cooper served as moderator.

If you weren’t able to join us on the day of the livestream, you can still watch it anytime on YouTube by going to bit.ly/SJM2May2025.

Newly introduced bill would eliminate prison co-pays for medical care

A bill that would eliminate the $5 co-pay levied on people who are incarcerated for nonemergency medical services would be eliminated under a new bill introduced to the Michigan Senate. Senate Bill 318 would simply remove the co-pay, which can serve as a barrier between people and the medical, dental or optical care.

Removing the co-pay requires legislative action, as a current law requires a co-pay for nonemergency medical help in prison. Safe & Just Michigan has already successfully worked with the Michigan Department of Corrections to lower other fees encountered by people who are incarcerated and their families, such as fees to make phone calls. We hope to see a committee hearing on the bill sometime in June, though one hasn’t been scheduled yet.

Help amplify Inside Voices

Inside Voices is a written by justice-involved people currently incarcerated in Michigan prisons that is published in our hardcopy newsletter. While space in the printed newsletter is limited, we are able to post more of them online for everyone to read.

If you would like to encourage someone who is incarcerated to submit a letter, please tell them they can send a letter of 300 words or less on criminal justice reform, pending legislation, re-entry or related topics to Inside Voices, c/o Safe & Just Michigan, 119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 2A, Lansing, MI 48912.

To learn more, visit us at www.safeandjustmi.org. If you would like to join our efforts, email us at info@safeandjustmi.org or sign up for our newsletter at bit.ly/sjmsignup.