Convicted murderer Matthew Makowski, sentenced to life without parole, ?now faces potential release
LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last week announced his support for the family of the 19-year-old victim of Matthew Makowski in opposing Makowski’s possible parole from prison for a life sentence without parole for first degree murder.
Makowski was convicted in Wayne County along with two others in their victim’s stabbing death in 1988.
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people. Michigan has always recognized the seriousness of felony murder, in which a criminal plans a violent crime knowing that the victim is likely to be seriously harmed or murdered,” said Schuette. “We must never forget that the victim’s family has rights, too. This convicted murderer should stay behind bars.”
In 2010, Governor Jennifer Granholm commuted Makowski’s sentence, but upon further consideration and warranted outrage from the victim’s family, Granholm reversed her decision. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the Governor does not have the power to reverse a commutation, and Makowski now faces potential release in front of the Michigan Parole Board.
“This is a murderer whose commutation should never have been granted in the first place,” said Schuette.
In 2010, an assistant attorney general under then-Attorney General Mike Cox voiced the Department’s opposition at Makowki’s commutation hearing. Governor Granholm granted Makwoski’s commutation over the Department’s objection.
The Michigan Parole Board Chairperson is scheduled to interview Makowski on July 17. Following Makowski’s interview, the Parole Board Chairperson will make a recommendation to the full Parole Board on whether or not to proceed to a public parolable lifer hearing.
In 1985, Michigan was one of the first states to implement crime victim rights and was the first state to adopt these rights in our state constitution in 1988.
Victims have the right to address the Parole Board, and this right was recently strengthened by Public Act 564 of 2012, which the Attorney General supported. This right ensures that the Parole Board is aware of the personal and social cost of the crimes committed by the prisoner being considered for parole.
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