Michigan Supreme Court rules in favor of resentencing hearings for 18-year-olds serving life sentences
Darryl Woods knows the power of the high court's latest ruling. When Woods was 18, he was convicted and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
"This is not a get out of jail free card," said Woods. "I believe that we should be a state who believes in redemption and giving people a second chance."
Serving nearly three decades behind bars, Woods says he missed pivotal moments in life, including the passing of his mother and grandmother and raising his two children, who were just 6 months old and a year old when he went away.
His case was overturned in 2003, and he began the appeal process, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court before his sentence was commuted in 2019.
"I don't forget where I come from.
I don't forget about the pain and the agony that I went through. I suffered for 29 years," said Woods.
Woods says Monday's ruling doesn't minimize the crimes committed or the victims impacted but instead ensures defendants are given fair sentences.
"We have to balance this thing out properly. I believe in redemption, and the numbers prove very vividly that we could give folks a second chance and we can punish them at the same time," he said.
Paul Draus, a professor of sociology at the University of Michigan Dearborn, says the ruling, which called the original law a "violation" of Michigan's constitutional prohibition on cruel or unusual punishment, is significant.
"These individuals now actually have the chance to make amends to their community by contributing in a positive way to those communities when they return home, as many of them are doing now," said Draus, who also leads the university's Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program at Macomb Correctional Facility.
Woods hopes the 250 Michiganders who are now entitled to resentencing get the opportunity to prove why they deserve that chance.
"I trust and believe that those who have been justice impacted want a safe community, and so I believe the careful review process should take place, and we need to get the people out who need to be out," said Woods.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
What to know on Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jeffrey Epstein files: The latest
The Justice Department talked to Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, after weeks of bubbling outrage over a memo that appeared to close the Epstein case. Over two days, Justice Department officials questioned Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, as the White House continues to battle calls for more transparency over what Epstein did and who else may have been involved. It's unclear what came out of the interview, but Maxwell's lawyer David Markus said his client answered all of the government's questions, which covered about 100 people. "She answered questions about everybody and she didn't hold anything back," Markus said, without specifying who was mentioned. The Justice Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on what came out of the interview. The talks follow more than two weeks of bubbling outrage from members of President Donald Trump's base over the department's announcement in early July that it won't release its files on Epstein. DOJ said a systematic review of the files didn't turn up any list of clients involved in Epstein's crimes. Even some congressional Republicans have clamored for the files' release or introduced legislation to try to force the Trump administration's hand. Republican leadership has so far blocked the legislation and White House officials continue to resist those calls. Still, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has suggested that Maxwell could reveal new details about Epstein's circle and crimes. Here is all the latest on the fallout: July 25: Maxwell lawyer signals desire for pardon Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse, and for conspiring to entice and transport minors for illegal sex acts. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, and has an appeal pending at the U.S. Supreme Court. Markus indicated July 25 that his client could ask for a pardon soon, following the two days she spent talking to Justice Department officials July 24-25. "We haven't spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet," he said. "The president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way." Trump has the power to pardon Maxwell fully as well as to commute her prison sentence. But to many, that might look more like reducing than enhancing accountability – especially if Maxwell offers little in return. In the morning on July 25, Trump said he hasn't thought about pardoning Maxwell, but also didn't rule it out. "I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about," Trump said. "I certainly can't talk about pardons now." July 25: 16% of voters in poll approve of Trump administration on Epstein Only 16% of of voters who responded to a poll released July 25 by Emerson College Polling approved of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. Fifty-one percent disapproved, while 33% were neutral. The poll surveyed 1,400 U.S. voters from July 21-22. Its margin of error is ±2.5 points, according to the polling organization. July 23: Florida judge shields Epstein grand jury testimony In addition to approaching Maxwell, the Justice Department asked federal judges in Florida and New York to unseal transcripts of testimony before grand juries investigating Epstein and Maxwell. If judges allow for the transcripts' release, the department said it will first redact both victim-related information and personal identifying information from the transcripts. On July 23, federal Judge Judge Robin L. Rosenberg rejected the request in Florida, writing that she doesn't have the power to order the records' release because of a past ruling from an appeals court that presides over her trial court. Judges in New York haven't yet ruled on the administration's requests there. July 23: Reports emerge that AG Bondi told Trump in May he is named in Epstein files Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that he was named multiple times in the government's files on Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and CNN. A White House official did not dispute that Trump's name is mentioned in the Epstein files, telling USA TODAY that briefing binders Bondi prepared for MAGA influencers in February included the president's name. But the official rejected any suggestion that Trump engaged in wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Being named doesn't mean the person did anything criminal. July 22: House Speaker Mike Johnson starts summer recess early to avoid Epstein House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, announced on July 22 he is shutting down the House for its summer recess early to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson said there was "no daylight" between the Trump administration and the House, and the White House needed "space" to address the issue. Members of Congress were scheduled to leave Washington for several weeks starting July 24, but Johnson said he would cut the schedule short and end with votes on July 23. Johnson took that step after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, co-sponsored legislation calling for the release of the government's Epstein records. July 22: New footage shows Epstein at Trump wedding Archived video footage and photos revealed by CNN July 22 showed Jeffrey Epstein attended Trump's wedding to Marla Maples at the Plaza Hotel in 1993. Maples is the second of Trump's three wives. The couple divorced in 1999. "You've got to be kidding me," Trump told CNN when asked about the wedding photos on a phone call. He called the outlet "fake news" and hung up. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the images were "out-of-context frame grabs of innocuous videos and pictures of widely attended events to disgustingly infer something nefarious." July 22: House committee agrees to seek Maxwell testimony The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed on July 22 to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell to testify. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee, said he pressed for the subpoena in order to learn more about Epstein's criminal conduct. 'This deposition will help the American people understand how Jeffrey Epstein was able to carry out his evil actions for so long without being brought to justice,' Burchett said. July 18: Trump sues Wall Street Journal over lewd Epstein birthday letter On July 17, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a lewd birthday letter for his 50th birthday, which took place in early 2003. Trump called the letter a "FAKE" on social media July 17 and sued the newspaper's publisher for libel on July 18. The letter contains typewritten dialogue between "Donald" and "Jeffrey," and at a later point "Trump." In the dialogue, "Donald" says, "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey" and that, "Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?" The dialogue ends with "Trump" saying, "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret." The dialogue is encased within a seemingly hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, the Journal reported. The letter includes a pair of arcs denoting the woman's breasts, and a "Donald" squiggly signature mimicking pubic hair. USA TODAY could not verify the details or origin of the letter. Contributing: Joey Garrison, Bart Jansen, Melina Khan, Savannah Kuchar, Christopher Cann - USA TODAY
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
GloRilla's home was targeted by burglars. She says it's ‘crazy' that she was arrested instead
Rap star Glorilla is spilling her tea about her recent arrest, sharing her side of the chain of events that led to her felony drug charges this week. The 'Sticky' and 'TGIF' musician, whose real name is Gloria Woods, said Thursday on X that her run-in with law-enforcement officials was 'CRAZY.' She claimed that police, 'instead of focusing on finding the Suspects' who broke into her Atlanta home, 'they focus[ed] on some cannabis.' '1. So no I wasn't busted 2. My house got robbed 3. I wasn't home,' the 25-year-old performer wrote. 'Long story short my house gets home invaded and I'm the only one that gets arrested.' Officers with the Forsyth County [Ga.] Sheriff's Office were dispatched early Sunday morning to the rapper's home, responding to a report of a burglary. Woods was in Indianapolis at the time for the WNBA All-Star Game, where she was the halftime performer. Three suspects entered Woods' home and were stealing items when an occupant of the house fired a weapon at the intruders. The intruders fled the scene and did not appear to have been injured, the sheriff's office said. Deputies investigating the burglary noticed a 'strong odor consistent with illegal narcotics,' and a drug task force secured a warrant to search the home. A statement from the sheriff's office alleges the task force found marijuana 'in plain view inside the master bedroom closet.' Woods was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. She voluntarily turned herself in on Tuesday and was released on $22,260 later that day. The sheriff's office said that it has not located the suspects and that its investigation into the burglary is ongoing. Legal representatives for Woods alleged the suspects fled the scene with 'high value jewelry' and that Woods' family members staying at the home 'were traumatized' by the incident. Attorneys Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg said in a statement that Woods' arrest is 'a disturbing window into how warped law enforcement priorities have become' and that their client 'is a victim, not a suspect.' Sheriff Ron Freeman said in a statement that the homeowner is the 'victim of a serious crime' and that officers seek justice but 'at the same time ... must continue to uphold and enforce the law in all aspects of this case.' After speaking out on X about her arrest, GloRilla moved forward by celebrating the arrival of Leo season. The 'Typa' artist, who celebrates her birthday Monday, shared on social media revealing pictures of herself posing with a chair. 'Anyways, dey done let da LEOS ina door,' she captioned the pics. The three-time Grammy nominee will take over the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday for her inaugural Glo Bash concert. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Epoch Times
Trump Says SCOTUS Immunity Ruling Likely Helps Obama Following DNI Disclosures
President Donald Trump on Friday said that former President Barack Obama likely has immunity following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in light of a report that was declassified by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard earlier this month. Gabbard said the documents showed that Obama and his then-Cabinet members 'manufactured and politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump,' which Obama denied in a statement earlier this week. Gabbard said in a Sunday interview that she referred some Obama-era officials for criminal prosecution to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI.
