MI SB0377

Establishes duties for the Michigan sentencing commission to collect, analyze, and disseminate information on state and local sentencing policies, and conduct ongoing research on sentencing guidelines effectiveness.

Requires the commission to collect data with the Department of Corrections on correctional facility populations, capacities, recidivism rates (measured at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year intervals), and resentence/return-to-prison rates.

Directs the commission to develop recommended modifications to sentencing guidelines that protect the public, consider violent offenses and serious financial crimes as more severe, reduce sentencing disparities, and establish appropriate sentence ranges and intermediate sanctions.

Prohibits the commission from recommending changes to enumerated criminal offenses, implementing behavioral or programming credits, or retroactively changing existing sentences; requires submission of prison and jail impact reports to the legislature for any proposed guideline modifications.

Mandates the commission submit annual December reports to the legislature, governor, and Michigan Supreme Court on implementation of criminal justice legislative policies, including practitioner education on statutory changes and analysis of impacts on prison populations and sentence lengths.