Governor Gretchen Whitmer granted clemency to several individuals last week, marking a significant step forward in efforts to reevaluate lengthy sentences for specific crimes. Darrell Phillips, a 67-year-old Saginaw man who had been incarcerated for more than two decades after being convicted of armed robbery, was among those granted clemency, according to MLive.
Phillips, who was convicted of robbing a 7-Eleven in 2001, received a sentence ranging from 35 to 60 years. Phillips suffers from health issues, is in a wheelchair, and requires dialysis, which influenced the Governor’s decision.
According to Governor Whitmer’s announcement last week, a commutation does not erase the conviction, but rather reduces the sentence to allow for parole, as Mid Michigan Now reported.
The process of obtaining a pardon or commutation is lengthy, with applicants having to submit requests to the Michigan Parole Board, which evaluates them on a case-by-case basis. After meeting the board’s criteria, recommendations are sent to the Governor’s office, where the final decision is made. According to Governor Whitmer’s office, these clemency decisions are part of a larger initiative to improve the criminal justice system and give people convicted of nonviolent, low-level offenses a second chance.
“As a former prosecutor, I am focused on protecting public safety, reducing crime, and building a stronger, smarter criminal justice system,” Governor Whitmer told WWMT.
