Standish Prison Eyed by Feds to Ease Jammed Facilities, Rep. Stupak Says
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This sign outside the city limits of Standish, MI says it all.
Standish MAX may be up to the max again.
Officials from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will travel to Standish the week of August 16 to tour Standish Maximum Security Prison, U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak announced today.
Rep. Stupak, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Corrections Director Patricia L. Caruso plan to meet with local officials about the possibility of converting the prison into a federal facility.
BOP officials were impressed with the quality and safety record of Standish prison following their tour of the facility in August of 2009. Despite the positive tour, Standish was not selected as a replacement for the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners.
The federal facility being proposed would be used to alleviate the overcrowding BOP is facing in existing federal prisons.
"The increase in the federal system is not surprising," prison reform expert Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, has explained, adding:
"The elimination of federal parole and (harsher sentencing) has produced a large stagnant body of federal prisoners."
Overcrowding continues to be a problem in both state and federal prisons, according to a Justice Department report, with most facilities operating at more than 100 percent capacity.
Much of the federal inmate increase was attributed by multiple sources to mandatory sentencing on low level drug crimes. The number of women being sentenced also has risen dramatically.
Daniel Dunne, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons, had said cell shortage is a problem but explained the BOP is "making several new institutions to accommodate for the projected growth in the prison population."
Turley said. "More and more politicians are yielding to criminal legislation as an irresistible political temptation."
"During their tour of the prison last fall, federal officials recognized what we in Michigan already know - Standish Max as a top-notch facility with an impeccable safety record," Stupak said.
"A year ago I committed to working to find a way to reopen Standish Max and I have continued to have discussions with Harley Lappin, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on this issue.
"This visit is a promising development in our ongoing efforts to urge the BOP to use the facility as a federal prison. While this is not yet a done deal, it is a huge step in the right direction toward reopening this prison, and providing a critical economic boost to the Standish community and the entire state."
The upcoming visit by U.S. Bureau of Prisons officials is an encouraging sign for the reuse of the Standish correctional facility, Gov. Granholm said.
"Reopening the prison as a federal facility would create new jobs in Standish and provide an economic lift for the surrounding area and all of Michigan."
"Since closing Standish Max, we've worked hard to find a suitable agency to utilize this very viable correctional facility," Caruso said. "I know the Standish community would like to see the prison operating again and we're hopeful this opportunity will materialize."
"Mayor Winslow and I thank Congressman Stupak, Governor Granholm and Director Caruso for continuing their efforts to support the Standish community and turn Standish Max into a federal prison," said Mike Moran, Standish City Manager.
"We welcome BOP officials to Standish again and look forward to meeting with them to discuss the future of Standish Max."
Currently BOP facilities are operating at 37 percent above capacity across the federal prison system, with high and medium security prisons operating 53 percent and 46 percent above capacity, respectively.
Acquiring vacant state and local prison facilities is one option for housing inmates as a means to reduce overcrowding.
While in Standish, officials will meet with local officials and property owners in addition to touring the facility. The BOP is still in the exploratory phase and has not made a formal offer to purchase the Standish facility.
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