02/01/2026
HB 1693 will help Viola Gray
Gray’s Story:
- Met her husband/abuser at age 16 y/o
- Served 29 years
- At the time of the incident Gray was in her Early 30’s
- She began to have an affair
- Her husband caught them and then Grays lover shot and killed Gray’s husband.
- Gray was charged as a principle/accomplice
- Mind you, the husband had outside children
- In addition - the lover confessed to the murder in the trial transcripts, however he testified against Gray and was given a lesser sentence than Gray.
- Gray is sentenced to life in prison
- We petitioned the court twice for conditional release for Gray last year, but the Judge’s understanding is Gray became parole eligible at 65 y/o which is a misconception.
- The law currently requires Gray to petition the circuit court judge for conditional release.
- HB 1693 shifts from the circuit court setting the conditions to MDOC records department.
- Conditional release statute falls under the Earned Release Supervision Statute, whereas MDOC records department grant or deny conditional release.
