Time is Running Out for Michigan Pretrial Reform: Take Action Now!

As the legislative session in Michigan winds down this year, we’re facing a critical deadline. House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-4661 – bills designed to create a fairer, more just pretrial system – are sitting on the table, waiting for action. These bills are part of an essential pretrial reform package aimed at limiting cash bail for non-violent offenses, expanding pretrial services, and ensuring that justice is not determined by a person’s financial status. But unless we push for their passage now, they may die on the vine in December.

For too long, the pretrial system has disproportionately impacted low-income residents and communities of color, perpetuating racial and economic disparities. Under the current system, people end up behind bars simply because they cannot afford bail – an injustice that flies in the face of fairness, equality, and community safety. The pretrial reform bills offer us a chance to correct this.

It’s our responsibility to stand up for these changes. This package represents a historic step forward, but time is running out to make this change a reality for all Michiganders. We need your voice, your advocacy, and your action. Here are three simple ways you can get involved and help move this package forward before it’s too late:

1. Take 2 Minutes: Amplify on Social Media. Call for passage of the pretrial reform package on your social media channels. Use hashtags like #MILeg and #MIPretrialReform to reach a broad audience and inspire others to take action. The more voices we have advocating for these bills, the stronger our impact will be. Here are some sample posts:
   • No one should sit in jail just because they can’t afford bail. That’s why I support Michigan’s House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-4661 and call for passage of #MIPretrialReform to create a fairer, safer justice system. Time is running out – #MILeg, act before December!
   • Michigan’s justice system needs change. #MILeg should pass House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-4661 to ensure fairness over finances in pretrial decisions. Let’s create a system that truly works for ALL. #MIPretrialReform
   • The end of the MI legislative session is near – don’t let these pretrial reform bills fade away. I’m calling on #MILeg to pass House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-4661 THIS YEAR so Michigan can take a historic step toward fairness. #MIPretrialReform #ActNow
2. Take 3 Minutes: Reach Out to Speaker of the House Joe Tate. This package cannot advance without support from our state’s legislative leaders. Contact Speaker Tate to express your support for House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-4661 and encourage him to prioritize these reforms. You can email him at joetate@house.mi.gov or call his office at (517) 373-0857. Let him know why this issue matters to you and why it’s vital for Michigan.
3. Talk to Your Community. Sometimes, the most meaningful advocacy starts with a conversation. Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about the need for pretrial reform in Michigan. Encourage them to reach out to their own representatives and explain why these bills are crucial for creating a fairer system.

Time is of the essence, and with the legislative session ending in December, we need to act now! We have the chance to transform Michigan’s pretrial system into one that upholds the values of equality and justice for all Michiganders. But we can’t do it without your support. By taking these simple steps, YOU can help ensure that House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-4661 become a reality, helping to create a Michigan where justice is not just a promise, but a practice.

Let’s make our voices heard and advocate for a system that truly serves all Michiganders. Act now – our state is counting on us to push for a justice system that reflects our values and treats everyone with fairness.