No way out Michigan’s parole board redefines the meaning of “life” APPS CITIZENS ALLIANCE ON PRISONS & PUBLIC SPENDING No way out Michigan’s parole board redefines the meaning of “life” September, 2004 APPS CITIZENS ALLIANCE ON PRISONS & pUBLIC sPENDING Additional copies of this report may be purchased for $7, including shipping. The full report is also available on the CAPPS website: www.capps-mi.org. Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending 115 W. Allegan St., Suite 850 Lansing, MI 48933 Tel: 517-482-7753 Fax: 517-482-7754 E-Mail:
[email protected] Contents Preface 1 Introduction 3 Multiple views on the meaning of life 5 • Michigan’s Lifer Law - then and now 7 • The view from the bench 14 • The view from other states 17 • The view from inside 19 • Should lifers be paroled? A review of the relevant facts 22 Prisoner profiles 27 • About these profiles 29 • Henry Phillips 31 • Reynaldo Rodriguez 32 • Gladys Wilson 34 • Leslie G. Moran 35 • James R. Percy 37 • Martin Vargas 38 • Gregory Lawrence & Robert Schraw 41 • Ross Stephen Hayes 44 • Michelle Bazzetta-Southers 45 • Gerald Lee Hessell 47 • Jose Daniel Mares 49 • Anthony Johnson 50 • Derek Lee Foster 52 • David Closser 53 • Philandius Ford 55 • Monica Jahner 57 • Robert Weisenauer 58 • Kenneth Foster 60 • Ruth Bullock 62 • The view from then to now 64 Recommendations for change 67 Acknowledgments 72 Preface There are two kinds of life sentences in Michigan. Life without the possibility of parole is mandatory for the crime of first-degree murder. Parolable life is one alternative judges can choose for many other of- fenses.