Pictures from "A Look Inside Our Prisons" Legislative Luncheon: Citizens for Prison Reform
Legislative Sponsors: Representative Haveman and Senator Proos / Representative Lindberg and Senator Anderson
A Look Inside Our Prisons Click to see: More Legislative Luncheon photos
Michigan's Citizens for Prison Reform Legislative Day event a Huge Success
October 26, 2011 was a day that many worked hard to see to fruition and the outcome of those efforts was huge. A Legislative Day is not a common occurrence at the Michigan Capitol Building. This is an event where Legislators are invited to meet with constituents and discuss common concerns the constituents have with their prospective Legislators. This is an informal meeting usually during lunch hour so that many Legislators can come and go during their busy schedules and still have conversations with concerned constituents.
In our case, it was about and for prison reform and humane treatment for the loved ones in prison. We were asked about our funding source for this advocacy work we do. The reply is, we are not a funded organization. We are a grassroots organization made up of concerned citizens with loved ones incarcerated and working for changes in the Corrections. The drive and motivations comes from our hearts and not our wallets. We are committed to seeing that humane and proper therapeutic treatment is gained for the mentally ill who are incarcerated; that programs exist and are available for all incarcerated; and that proper classification and less solitary confinement/segregation is used over all for the incarcerated. Prisoners are people too.
The room and attendees were very receptive to each other. The tone was comfortable and non-defensive. The Legislators paid close attention and received written information to take with them. There were organizations and groups present representing other work in the area of Corrections reform. There was a lot of positive energy in the room and very engaged conversations.
One of our members was told by a Legislator that he was so impressed to walk into the room and see that the Legislators were engaged in conversation with the constituents and the room was alive with energy. He said that this is not the norm for a Legislative luncheon. He highly complimented our group in the planning and carrying out of this day!
Another Legislator said at a meeting later in the day, he was “honored to have a wonderful luncheon that so many of us were privileged to attend.” We feel we were very successful in having our concerns heard and received by Legislators. We were invited to continue to push contacting and reminding our Legislators of our concerns and reform ideas.
A few from our group were invited to meet with a staff person from the Governor’s office. This meeting was a surprise, yet a wonderful opportunity because of all this work. The meeting was hopefully the first in an attempt to communicate openly and exchange information about potential changes with the Governor’s office and Corrections as well. The main areas of our advocacy platform were presented and received.
We feel our message that prisoners are people too was well received and hope this is just the beginning of much work to do on their behalf. We hope all who attended felt the success of having face-to-face conversations with Legislators and presenting information of value to making change within the Corrections system. We hope those who are not familiar with what we do but want to become involved in the change process will attend one of our meetings and find out how you can advocate on behalf of the many incarcerated people in this state.
We thank each of you who came to be a part of this important day. We thank Representative Haveman for his extended efforts in making this day possible, as well.
October 26, 2011 was a day that many worked hard to see to fruition and the outcome of those efforts was huge. A Legislative Day is not a common occurrence at the Michigan Capitol Building. This is an event where Legislators are invited to meet with constituents and discuss common concerns the constituents have with their prospective Legislators. This is an informal meeting usually during lunch hour so that many Legislators can come and go during their busy schedules and still have conversations with concerned constituents.
In our case, it was about and for prison reform and humane treatment for the loved ones in prison. We were asked about our funding source for this advocacy work we do. The reply is, we are not a funded organization. We are a grassroots organization made up of concerned citizens with loved ones incarcerated and working for changes in the Corrections. The drive and motivations comes from our hearts and not our wallets. We are committed to seeing that humane and proper therapeutic treatment is gained for the mentally ill who are incarcerated; that programs exist and are available for all incarcerated; and that proper classification and less solitary confinement/segregation is used over all for the incarcerated. Prisoners are people too.
The room and attendees were very receptive to each other. The tone was comfortable and non-defensive. The Legislators paid close attention and received written information to take with them. There were organizations and groups present representing other work in the area of Corrections reform. There was a lot of positive energy in the room and very engaged conversations.
One of our members was told by a Legislator that he was so impressed to walk into the room and see that the Legislators were engaged in conversation with the constituents and the room was alive with energy. He said that this is not the norm for a Legislative luncheon. He highly complimented our group in the planning and carrying out of this day!
Another Legislator said at a meeting later in the day, he was “honored to have a wonderful luncheon that so many of us were privileged to attend.” We feel we were very successful in having our concerns heard and received by Legislators. We were invited to continue to push contacting and reminding our Legislators of our concerns and reform ideas.
A few from our group were invited to meet with a staff person from the Governor’s office. This meeting was a surprise, yet a wonderful opportunity because of all this work. The meeting was hopefully the first in an attempt to communicate openly and exchange information about potential changes with the Governor’s office and Corrections as well. The main areas of our advocacy platform were presented and received.
We feel our message that prisoners are people too was well received and hope this is just the beginning of much work to do on their behalf. We hope all who attended felt the success of having face-to-face conversations with Legislators and presenting information of value to making change within the Corrections system. We hope those who are not familiar with what we do but want to become involved in the change process will attend one of our meetings and find out how you can advocate on behalf of the many incarcerated people in this state.
We thank each of you who came to be a part of this important day. We thank Representative Haveman for his extended efforts in making this day possible, as well.
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