Dear Neighbor,
Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including updates and news from your state government.
Rep. Hope Tours Ingham Academy
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I recently toured Lansing’s Ingham Academy. Ingham Academy is an “alternative” high school for adjudicated young people. Students receive wraparound behavioral health services as well as work experience. Successful graduates of the program leave with a high school diploma, and many have job opportunities waiting for them.
What’s more, the young people who complete Ingham Academy have a very low incidence of returning to the juvenile court system or going on to offend as adults. Ingham Academy’s evidence-based approach to juvenile justice has served as a model for similar programs around the U.S. I look forward to working with Ingham Academy and my colleagues in the House Criminal Justice Committee to improve our state’s juvenile justice system and reduce recidivism in Michigan.
Rep. Hope Testifies on Bills to Protect Election Workers
Last week, I testified in the House Elections Committee in support of my bills to protect election officials from intimidation intended to interfere with an election. House Bills 4129 and 4130 would make a first offense of intimidating election workers a misdemeanor. Subsequent offenses could be prosecuted as a felony. According to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice, 1 in 6 election officials have been threatened because of their job; 77% of respondents said threats have increased in recent years, making it difficult to recruit and retain poll workers. These bills ensure that election workers can effectively carry out their duties needed for the smooth operation of an election.
Rep. Hope Advocates for Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors
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I recently joined domestic violence advocates to speak about House Bills 4945-4946 and Senate Bills 471-472, which would prohibit those convicted of any domestic violence charge from possessing a firearm for eight years. 53 women in Michigan are killed each year from domestic abuse, and 66% of women killed by an intimate partner are killed with a gun. Currently, Michigan law prohibits felony domestic violence offenders from purchasing a firearm; however, this restriction is not imposed for misdemeanor domestic violence offenses. These bills would add Michigan to the 31 other states in keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Rep. Hope and Sen. Anthony Answer Your Budget Questions
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Thank you to everyone who attended my recent coffee hour! Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony and I discussed the contents of the 2024 state budget and answered questions from constituents.
Sincerely,
Kara Hope
State Representative