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August 16, 2009
Detroit Free Press Editorial: "For Jobs' Sake Bring in Out-of-State Prisoners"
"A bigger concern is whether the federal government would retain local correctional officers. For that reason, inmates from other state correctional systems are probably preferable, as Michigan could determine who works at the prison."
Posted: Aug. 15, 2009
EDITORIAL- Detroit Free Press
For jobs' sake, bring in out-of-state prisoners
Michigan is taking overdue steps to reduce its prison population and close prisons. Given its woeful economy, the state ought to entertain any offers to house out-of-state prisoners -- including 229 Guantanamo Bay terrorism suspects -- to ease the economic impact on local communities. Housing those prisoners poses no greater risk than incarcerating people convicted in Michigan for murder or other violent offenses.
Federal officials visited the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility Thursday to determine its suitability for detainees now held in a military installation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- one of three possibilities to raise revenues by using Michigan prisons to house inmates currently incarcerated elsewhere. Local leaders generally support the move, if it keeps the 604-bed, maximum-security prison, otherwise slated to close Oct. 1, up and running. The prison provides 340 jobs in the city of 1,500, as well as nearly half of the city's water and sewer revenues.
California and Pennsylvania have also expressed interest in sending prisoners to Michigan, at a price of roughly $32,000 a year per prisoner, the cost to incarcerate in Michigan.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm is least enthusiastic about the Gitmo detainees, citing the security issues of moving terrorism suspects to Michigan. Such concerns are generally unfounded. Escapes from maximum-security prisons are extremely rare and, when they do occur, the prisoner generally flees the area. Standish, in fact, has had no escapes.
A bigger concern is whether the federal government would retain local correctional officers. For that reason, inmates from other state correctional systems are probably preferable, as Michigan could determine who works at the prison.
The state seeks to reduce its prison population by 3,500 this year by releasing more parole-eligible prisoners and closing several of its 41 prisons. That's good, but more than 1,000 jobs could be lost.
Viewing prisons as employment agencies is immoral and usually impractical. In a state with the nation's highest unemployment rate, it's inevitable, though, that the debate on closing prisons would include jobs and economic impact.
Housing out-of-state prisoners would enable Michigan to continue its overdue effort to reduce inmates and lower its $2-billion-a-year corrections budget, while easing some of the political pressures, and personal pain, of job losses from prison closings.
http://www.freep.com/article/20090815/OPINION01/908150325/1322/For-jobs--sake--bring-in-out-of-state-prisoners
Posted by lois at August 16, 2009 10:37 AM