Michigan recently has been spending more on prisons than on higher education, noted Bridge Magazine's Ted Roelofs last year. PRISON CRISIS: Michigan Freeing Low Level Criminals to Cut Costs
June 7, 2015
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Gov. Rick Snyder wants to let more low level prisoners out but Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette doesn't.
The conflicting opinions reflect two schools of thought on one of the state's biggest and knottiest problems.
Hard core law and order types like Schuette think any expense is okay to keep any lawbreaker locked away; realists like Snyder know the state's budget can't afford such policies.
However, a broad coalition of liberal and conservative groups have joined together to advocate for criminal justice reform. This coalition includes George Soros's Open Society Foundations on the left and Koch Industries on the right; together, the two are funding a $50 million eight-year campaign through the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to push for reforms.
A core barrier stands in the way of reform. After they get out, even low level criminals have an almost impossible task of getting hired; hardly any employer wants to take a chance on someone with a felony on their record.
And, without a job, the chances of a parolee committing another crime, or violating terms of release is high. So the cycle continues.
As does the estimated $35,000 annual cost of keeping someone in prison.
Jack Lessenberry of Michigan Public Radio explains how the state created its current $2 billion prison crisis:
"Back in the 1960s and '70s, the popular law and order slogans were "get tough on crime," and "lock 'em up and throw the key away."
"Well, we tried that.
"What it got us was an increase in the state prison population from 18,000 to more than 50,000."
The State Corrections Department currently oversees 43,000 inmates in 31 prisons and camps, plus more than 61,000 probationers and parolees, boosting the annual budget over $2 billion.
Michigan recently has been spending more on prisons than on higher education, noted Bridge Magazine's Ted Roelofs last year.
State Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland, opined that the lock 'em up policy has not made things safer.
Gov. Rick Snyder called for broad reforms in sentencing and improved rehabilitation programs recently in a major speech. His comments were aimed at strategies for better controlling the more than $2 billion a year the state spends on criminal justice.
Snyder urged the adoption of "presumptive parole" of prisoners who have served minimum sentences and have a high probability of not committing new crimes. Releases are based on a scoring system used by Department of Corrections officials and the state parole board.
The idea drew opposition last year from Attorney General Bill Schuette, a fellow Republican, and county sheriffs who feared they would bear the costs of this approach. Schuette had "grave concerns" because the move would reduce the time served by convicted criminals under court supervision and increase "the threat to public safety."
The governor's wide-ranging talk promises to touch on vision from crime victims' rights to juvenile justice reforms to law enforcement diversity.
Among the ideas Snyder plans to address:
**Reforming how probation violations are handled. He would place a 30-day cap on imprisonment or detainment for the most common probation violations, saving an estimated millions of dollars.
***Expanding the Holmes Youth Training Act -- currently dedicated to those 17-20 years old -- so more young adults can receive alternative sentencing, treatment and training until their 24th birthday. He also wants a law that would revoke the alternative sentencing if an offender commits a new serious crime.
****Creating a cyber crime court
*****Having the Department of Corrections help track restitution to crime victims instead of relying on local courts.
******Getting recommendations from a governor's working group on body cameras for police.
*******Urging county jails to follow the lead of Kent County and make reforms so they don't put in jail many people accused of crimes or misdemeanors who have little risk of flight.
********Reviewing and consolidating Michigan's 3,000-plus criminal offenses on the books.
The governor chose Goodwill Industries offices on Grand River in Detroit as the site of his speech because the nonprofit organization offers education and work experience to prepare first-and second-time offenders to re-enter the community.
Directed by Keith Bennett, it's part of a national program of the organization called 'Flip the Script' that focuses on rehabilitating offenders.
He was joined by Corrections Director Dan Heyns and Egeler Reception Center Warden Heidi Washington, who will replace Heyns on July 1. Heyns will stay with the department.
Detroit's Goodwill plant is a tier one, or direct, supplier of workers who assemble and package parts for auto equipment makers.
Lawmakers are trying to revive failed 2014 legislation calling for reforms of 1998 sentencing guidelines and parole policies. The changes were recommended last May by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, which noted 1 in 5 state dollars is spent on corrections.
The legislation would have set up a state commission to study the appropriateness of sentences handed out under toughened policies that led to a prison system build-up in the 1990s. The 1998 guidelines are based on recommendations of the state's last sentencing commission.
It's under pressure from lawmakers to spend less through privatization of prison services. But the experts who've studied Michigan's corrections system say reforms are the best option for controlling costs and dispensing justice more effectively.
Snyder, Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young and legislative leaders from both parties -- who contracted for the inquiry -- wanted to use a "justice reinvestment approach to study the state's sentencing system, which would include an exhaustive data-driven analysis -- of courts, jail, probation, prison and parole, according to the Justice Center report.
Since 2007, more than half of the states have participated in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and made research-based policy changes to control prison growth, hold offenders accountable, and protect public safety.
Reforms aim to prioritize prison space for serious and violent offenders while expanding alternatives to incarceration for those who can be supervised more effectively and at less expense in the community.
The Pew Research Center notes these efforts in 29 states have drawn extraordinary bipartisan support: Justice reinvestment reforms have received more than 5,700 "aye" votes in state legislatures, compared with fewer than 500 "no" votes.
"The population drives the budget," said Adam Gelb, a criminal justice expert who directs the Pew Charitable Trust's Public Safety Performance Project. "You'd have to be naive to not realize that budget situations matter. The budget situation is bringing states to the table."
The tough-on-crime era of the 1990s and early 2000s has not wholly given up its hold on state legislators, some of whom see little political benefit, and potentially significant political risk, in releasing more prisoners. But, supporters say, the policy benefits, both budgetary and in reducing recidivism, far outweigh the risks. ###
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tennis1960 Says:
On June 08, 2015
at 07:18 PM
This country needs to educate the "NEVER GOT IN TROUBLE" population a 101 in humanity courses. I have been part of the Michigan judicial system and the way that the general public's understanding is that of a very under educated "DO GOODER" system. I just think capitalism has generated and endless treasure trove of "Hey lets do this!". This country has more issues to solve then put troops back in a foreign land to "FIX MANAGE AND CONTROL" their problems. Its got to stop this country is wasting our human resources on crime and punishment!!..Good one!
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ggallagh Says:
On June 14, 2015
at 06:03 PM
Lock em away is another uneducated, unproductive, and unworkable idea. Assistance through education and work availability reducing the ranks of poor would be productive to both society and humanity. Good article, hope it is heeded.
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