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PLSM,
Inc. is dedicated to providing the inmates of the Michigan Department of
Corrections (MDOC) with advice for dealing with legal issues and materials
with which they may aid themselves. In the future, we hope
to provide a great deal of information through this website for
family members and attorneys assisting prisoners.
In
November 2003, PLSM, Inc. settled with the MDOC in the trial
Cain et al v. MDOC, which spanned more than 15 years and began with the issues
regarding prisoners personal property. The
case eventually encompassed issues including prisoner access to the
courts, possession of typewriters, and classification.
PLSM, Inc. represented all the male prisoners in the class. The final ruling in the case, ordered that PLSM, Inc. be funded for
a minimum of two more years to monitor the implementation of the
settlement provisions. Find out more about the progression of that trial by reading the Dear
Cain Plaintiffs newsletters available
here.
If you cannot find the answers to your
questions on this website, please send your question to
 .
Please Pardon the Dust!
June 4, 2008
Please bear with us while the website
undergoes a much needed update. To date, all of the links as
well as the contact information have been updated. Feel free to
contact us with any questions regarding the site or ideas you
may have for it. With these concerns, please contact webmaster@plsminc.org.
Remember to stop back soon to see the changes we have made.
Thank you!
From the
Latest Dear Cain Plaintiffs
January 13, 2005
PLSM, Inc. will be sending out the
year's
first mailing of the Dear Cain Plaintiffs letter
to the class of Cain v. MDOC in the
coming weeks. Below are a few highlights.
Keep an eye on our
Cain v. MDOC section for
the full letter in PDF format.
PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED
Director Patricia L. Caruso announced the appointment of
three new Parole Board members. Current Parole Board
member Miguel Berrios was reappointed.
The new members are Artina Tinsley Hardman of
Detroit, Enid Livingston of Birmingham and
Stephen H. DeBoer of Hastings. The appointments
begin 1/30/05 and go through 9/30/08. They replace
William Slaughter, Margie McNutt and George Lellis.
Their terms have expired.
Former Representative Artina Tinsley Hardman represented
the Third House District. She served three terms and was
chair of the Legislative Black Caucus for her three
terms.
Enid Livingston is an attorney in private practice. She
specializes in writing appellate briefs and arguing
before the Michigan appellate courts as well as various
Circuit Courts. She currently serves as a member for the
State Bar’s Prisons and Corrections Section Council.
Stephen DeBoer has a law enforcement background. He is
Barry County Sheriff and was a First Lieutenant in the
Michigan State Police.
Chairman John Rubitschun, Rev. James Atterberry,
Barbara
Sampson, James Quinlan, Charles Braddock and
Marianne Samper are the other Board members.
Appellate Assigned Counsel Standards
Changed
The Supreme Court amended the performance standards for
assigned appellate counsel, effective January 1, 2005.
Administrative Order 2004-6. The court has reduced the
20 “MAACS” standards in Administrative Order 1981-7 down
to 9. The new standards serve only as “guidelines.”
Non-compliance with any of the standards, alone, is not
a basis for a claim of ineffective assistance. Also, a
violation of a standard will no longer be considered a
violation of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct.
Some of the other significant changes are summarized
here.
New Standard 2 eliminates the requirement for a personal
client visit by the attorney. At counsel’s discretion,
the required consultation may be through an attorney
agent, video or other means.
Standard 4 still allows defendants to file a pro per
supplemental brief, but now it must be done within 84
days after counsel files appellant’s brief.
This deadline may be extended only on counsel’s motion
establishing “good cause” for failure to meet the 84 day
time limit.
New Standard 5 changes the requirement that counsel
obtain defendant’s “written” consent to dismiss the
appeal. Now, only “informed” consent is required.
Past News
July 14, 2004
In reaction to the recent shootings in the Detroit area, Governor Granholm
announced that parolees found in possession of a firearm will be
sent back to prison as parole violators and may be charged with a
new crime as well. Read more in the Detroit Free Press, here.
quotable:
"Barbara Levine, executive
director of the Citizens Alliance on Prisons &
Public Spending, said based on details of Granholm's
plan relayed to her Tuesday, it could result in
unfair penalties for some violators.
'We
are very concerned about mandatory policies that require
the imposition of extremely harsh penalties, regardless
of individual circumstances,' Levine said. 'We are also
concerned about policies that will further expand our
already overburdened prison system at substantial cost
to taxpayers, without any evidence it will actually
reduce crime.' "
For more information
on CAPPS and parole issues, visit their website:
www.capps-mi.org |
