Online conference to look at MDOC, hosted by SBM

The State Bar of Michigan will present the Katherine L. Root SBM Prisons and Corrections Section Conference in partnership with the SBM Criminal Law Section online in June. “MDOC: What You Need to Know” will take place Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom.

The conference schedule will include:

• 9-9:45 a.m. “There’s a Policy for That” presented by Jessica Zimbelman (SADO) and Rick Simmons (impacted individual).   An overview of some of the most important policies as they relate to mail, phone calls, visits, finances, and more.  

• 9:45-10 a.m. Break  

• 10-10:30 a.m. “15 Facts in 30 Minutes” presented by Kyle Kaminski (MDOC).  A run through of 15 facts everyone should know about the MDOC including legal writers, programming eligibility, prisoner trust accounts, security threat groups, bootcamp eligibility, and more.  

• 10:30-11:15 a.m. “Preparing for Progress through Programming” presented by Kyle Kaminski (MDOC).  An introduction to the types of cognitive, educational, and job training programs offered within the prison and eligibility criteria for involvement.  

• 11:15-11:30 p.m.  Break  

• 11:30-12:15 p.m.  “Shining Light on Parole Guideline Scoring” presented by Holly Lea (MDOC).  An explanation of parole guideline scoring and the factors that go into the parole consideration process.

• 12:15-1:15 p.m. “The Ins and Outs of Misconducts and the Administrative Hearings Process” presented by Avar Laws-Wright (LARA) and Kyle Daniel-Bey (impacted individual). An introduction to different types of misconducts and an explanation of how to navigate the administrative hearings process and the options one has when receiving, challenging, and appealing misconducts.

• 1:15-1:30 p.m. Break  

• 1:30-3 p.m. Panel: “What I Wish I Had Known Before I Went to Prison” with moderator Danny Jones (Impacted Individual) and panelists Jose Burgos, Jeff Corbin, and Anthony Legion.  A panel of impacted people will discuss about the dos and don’ts of prison life, and sharing information they learned and wish they had known.  

• 3-3:15 p.m. Closeout and Q&A

To register for the conference, visit www.sado.org/go/SBM. Anyone with questions should contact Marilena David, chair SBM Prisons & Corrections Section, at 313-670-0309 or mdavid@sado.org.