« Today's college applications are screening for criminal offenses and bad behavior. | Main | CA: Craig Gilmore speaks at rally against Gov's prison plan »
March 29, 2007
MI: Unlock Safe Savings on Prisons
Unlock safe savings on prisons
March 26, 2007
Detroit Free Press
State Senate Republicans have rejected closing any prisons as part of
spending cuts to erase a $900-million shortfall in the current state
budget. That's their prerogative, but it shouldn't stop Gov. Jennifer
Granholm from moving forward with her sound and sensible plan to shut
down the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility in Jackson.
Fortunately for the state, the governor doesn't need the
Legislature's permission to grant commutations, release nonviolent
offenders who have served their time, or close an unneeded prison.
Closing Southern Michigan by July will save the state $35 million a
year.
As part of her plan to take $122 million from Corrections, Granholm
has proposed commuting the sentences of 500 "medically fragile"
inmates who are too old or too sick to pose a risk. The state also
will release up to 5,000 minor, nonviolent offenders who have already
served their minimum sentences. Once on parole, they will get
increased supervision and assistance under the Michigan Prisoner Re-
entry Initiative. Neighboring states, with lower lock-up rates and
less crime, have also used low-cost, community alternatives to
incarceration.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said Friday that
Republicans would propose ways to save money on Corrections without
closing prisons. But at least 80% of the department's budget goes to
running institutions. Closing them is the only way to save big money.
With a record 51,500 inmates and one of the nation's highest
incarceration rates, Michigan spends nearly $2 billion a year, or $5
million a day, on prisons, more than it spends on higher education.
The state can no longer afford it. Granholm can and should use her
rightful authority to make a small dent in Michigan's costly and
bloated prison system.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070326/
OPINION01/703260308/1068/OPINION
Posted by lois at March 29, 2007 04:10 PM