Gov. Rick Snyder this month announced the initial appointments to the Criminal Justice Policy Commission.
The 17-member commission, established this year, is responsible for reviewing current sentencing guidelines, exploring alternatives to incarceration, promoting rehabilitation programs and making recommendations to the Legislature. The commission includes representatives of the Legislature, the attorney general, and 12 members appointed by the governor.
“These appointees have a wide range of professional experience and I thank them for their willingness to serve on this new commission. I am confident they will provide strong suggestions for ways we can work to improve our criminal justice system,” Snyder said.
Four-year terms expiring March 1, 2019
• Bruce Caswell of Hillsdale, most recently served as a state senator representing the 16th District. He also served in the state House of Representatives. Caswell is a retired teacher and superintendent.
• Stacia Buchanan of Lansing, works with Mallory, Lapka, Scott, & Stein PLLC and was previously in private practice with Buchanan Law Office PLLC, and Maddaloni & Associates PC. He has served as adjunct faculty at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School since 2012.
• Kyle Kaminski of Lansing, the legislative liaison and chief of staff for the Michigan Department of Corrections, where he has worked since 2013. Kaminski earned a bachelor’s degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from Michigan State University.
• Raymond Voet of Ionia, a judge for the 64A District Court in Ionia County. He was first elected in 1998 after serving as prosecuting attorney for Ionia County.
Three-year terms expiring March 1, 2018
• Sheryl Kubiak of Milford, a professor at Michigan State University. Her areas of specialty include jails and prisons, interpersonal violence and sexual assault, and mental health.
• Sarah Lightner of Springport, a Jackson County commissioner, representing District 1. She is a paralegal with experience in criminal defense, family law, bankruptcy and civil law.
• Jennifer Strange of Traverse City, a clinical social worker, in Kingsley with the Michigan Department of Corrections. She is also a clinical therapist with Northern Lakes Community Mental Health and teaches at Baker College of Cadillac and Grand Valley State University.
• Paul Stutesman of Three Rivers, chief judge of St. Joseph County Circuit Court. He was appointed to the court in 2005 after spending a decade in private practice.
Two-year terms expiring March 1, 2017
D.J. Hilson of Muskegon, the Muskegon County prosecutor. Prior to his election, he spent 13 years as senior assistant prosecutor.
• Barbara Levine of Grand Ledge, executive director of the Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending. She was also an attorney in private practice and an administrator in the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System.
• Larry Stelma of Cedar Springs, Kent County sheriff. He has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience.
• Andrew Verheek of Grand Rapids, a planner with the Kent County Office of Community Corrections who previously worked as a case manager for Kent County Friend of the Court.
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