(LANSING) - Michigan officials are taking a new look at the state's sentencing policies after data showed prison sentences have grown significantly longer over the past decade.
The Michigan Sentencing Commission met this month for the first time in nearly 30 years after lawmakers revived the panel in 2024. The commission is reviewing sentencing trends and could recommend changes to state law.
A report from the Crime and Justice Institute found the average minimum prison sentence in Michigan increased from about nine years in 2014 to about 12 years in 2023, a 30 percent increase.
The study also found the share of inmates serving minimum sentences of 10 years or more grew from 55 percent to 65 percent during that period. Meanwhile, the percentage of inmates serving minimum sentences of two years or less fell from 21 percent to 14 percent.
Researchers found drug-related and assaultive offenses account for a large share of prison sentences in Michigan. The average minimum sentence for drug offenses increased 33 percent between 2014 and 2023, while sentences for assaultive offenses rose about 3 percent.
The commission was originally created in 1994 and helped develop Michigan's current felony sentencing guidelines before being disbanded.
State officials say the renewed review comes as policymakers examine prison populations, sentencing consistency and long-term demands on the correctional system.
The commission is expected to continue reviewing sentencing data and may propose legislative changes in the future.