Michael Griffin, labeled “Baby Killer” while behind bars, served a life sentence for the death of his infant daughter—a crime he insists he did not commit. According to Griffin, his daughter tragically fell from a baby swing at their Flint home and passed away the following day after a failed surgery. He claims police were determined to hold him responsible, accusing him of abuse and pressuring him into a false confession.

Michael Griffin, labeled “Baby Killer” while behind bars, served a life sentence for the death of his infant daughter—a crime he insists he did not commit. According to Griffin, his daughter tragically fell from a baby swing at their Flint home and passed away the following day after a failed surgery. He claims police were determined to hold him responsible, accusing him of abuse and pressuring him into a false confession.

A report reviewing a wrongful conviction in Wayne County was published Monday, outlining the factors that contributed to the mistaken conviction and suggesting measures to prevent similar errors in the future. Eric Anderson, who served nine years for a crime he did not commit, and Valerie Newman, director of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Conviction Integrity Unit, spoke with Local 4 about the report’s findings.

Realistic documentary-style image showing a small group of community members in a city hall or municipal meeting room. People are seated or standing in discussion, but no faces are clearly recognizable (soft depth of field, angled poses, or natural occlusion). A sense of civic engagement: notebooks, name placards, community posters, or a city emblem in the background. Diverse ages and backgrounds represented. Warm, natural lighting with a hopeful, constructive atmosphere.

Stanley Andrisse, Ph.D., now a professor at Howard University’s College of Medicine, has traveled an extraordinary road—from serving time in a maximum-security prison to earning tenure at the nation’s only R1-classified HBCU. His story powerfully illustrates the promise of redemption, the value of second opportunities, and the life-changing potential of education.

For years, Michigan’s prisons operated with a disturbingly steady stream of repeat occupants. People served their sentences, got out, and many soon returned—almost like a grim version of an Airbnb with an oddly devoted customer base, one that taxpayers funded at an enormous cost.

A complex set of obstacles prevents people released from jail or prison from meeting their basic needs, increasing the risk of further crime and reducing public safety.

The U.S. criminal justice system does little to stop the cycle of crime or prepare people for success after release. Studies show that in 2012, roughly 71 percent of individuals leaving prison were rearrested within five years. And of the 5.6 million people jailed annually, at least one in five ends up behind bars more than once in the same year.

Entrance to Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County on Dec. 19, 2024.
Commentary: Robert Ricks, Image: Will Waldron/Times Union

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