The people of Michigan deserve a justice system that prevents crime, reduces the violence that plagues too many communities, and cares for those who have been victimized. Offenders should be punished, but with the goal of returning them to the community as rehabilitated and productive members of society. The common good suffers when security, fairness, and a true sense of correction are replaced by fear and vengeance. To promote restorative justice, MCC supports:

• Policies that provide just compensation to crime victims, and treatment for their physical and emotional injuries,
• Policies that incentivize intensive probation programming to reduce recidivism,
• Adequate state funding to ensure accused indigent persons receive competent legal representation,
• Comprehensive services to assist the formerly incarcerated to become productive members of society,
• Sentencing guidelines and parole practices that reflect an individual’s potential threat to society, and
• Elimination of life without parole sentencing for juveniles convicted as adults.