Granholm, lawmakers to unveil prison spending cuts

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Thursday, January 22, 2009
Granholm, lawmakers to unveil prison spending cuts
Gary Heinlein and Charlie Cain / Detroit News Lansing Bureau


LANSING -- The first recommendations for trimming Michigan's $2 billion prison budget are being unveiled today by the national Council of State Governments, which is in the midst of a study spanning 2-3 years.

Michigan runs the nation's sixth-largest prison system at a cost of $5 million a day, or about $200 a day for each resident. The state also is one of just four that spends more on prisons than on state universities -- $1.19 on prisons for each $1 spent on schools.

There's a growing sense that the prison system, at its current size, no longer is sustainable, given the state's longstanding fiscal problems.

The state's corrections budget is under closer than usual scrutiny as lawmakers and Gov. Jennifer Granholm look for ways to resolve a projected $1.6 billion revenue shortfall in the state budget year that starts Oct. 1.

The Legislature has resisted making any major changes in sentencing and parole policies, expressing worries the result would be more crimes by inmates set free before they were rehabilitated. But the study by the prestigious council could provide justification for significant overhauls in the prison system.

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090122/METRO/901220434

[Poll_Blind]

1. Turn them marijuana users loose and you'll have more than enough money for the rest.

PB

[NOW tense]

2. Agreed.

[Lilith Velkor]

10. You know they won't do that - they'll just cut back on food and medical care.

That's the kind of country we are.

[Poll_Blind]

11. Maybe. We'll see. I hope you're wrong.

PB

[Lilith Velkor]

14. Me too!

[pattmarty]

19. Yeah, but if you did that, you would have to close half of the prisons.

[tridim]

3. This problem can be solved in 5 minutes with one stroke of the pen..

By moving Cannabis from schedule I to schedule III, where it should be by definition.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. "rehabilitated" ????

They still think locking people up in prison "rehabilitates" them?
Then why don't they call poisons "rehabilitation centers" and actually do some rehab activities?

And how many of the "prisoners" are in for cannabis only charges?
Bet we could save a fortune on releasing those people.

What many people don't realize is Bush's War on Drugs was a way to funnel a lot of people into the privatized prison system, and corporations make money from the continually growing population.

[nyc 4 Biden]

8. I agree, our prison system is making the prisoners less able to cope in society.

I seriously hope Obama totally shakes up the penal system in this country. We need to treat prisoners with more consideration for the fact that they will again be citizens.

from the tao te jing...

The Master has no mind of her own.
She works with the mind of the people.

She is good to people who are good.
She is also good to people who aren't good.
This is true goodness.

She trusts people who are trustworthy.
She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy.
This is true trust.

[redqueen]

9. That word struck me as well.

If only...

[Blaze Diem]

12. Ding Ding Ding!!!! Well said dixiegrrrrl.... Prisons are in the business for profit..

Not Rehabbing anyone.
This myth needs to be brought to the light of day.

This nation went to hell when everything became privitazed...i.e. For Profit.

Pres Obama needs to address this US tragedy.
Time to make it known where his budget could begin to slash some funds.
Take the prison system out of the private sector.
Change the laws on conviction& sentence for lesser, nonviolent crimes.

[bluestateguy]

5. Good

I can already hear the whining from the prison guard union.

I hope she makes the prison doors swing wide open for all non-violent drug offenders too.

[blue_onyx]

6. I'm sure Mike Bishop and the rest of the MI GOP

will, indeed, complain about how crime will increase if we change sentencing guidelines. The Republicans always talk about reforming government but whenever ideas are put forth to do this, they say no. It's like dealing with children. I bet if Granholm took the opposite position and said we shouldn't change the sentencing guidelines that the GOP would suddenly start screaming about we must adapt guidelines similar to other Great Lake states. Hopefully we can deal with the prison system because we can't keep spending so much on it.

[12string]

7. About fucking time

Now if only we could get the other 49 states to get their heads out of their ass and follow suit.We don't need more police and prisons.We need fewer bullshit laws.

[Psephos]

13. That says it succinctly n/t

[jwirr]

15. Marijuana is the biggest factor in prison costs. For God's sake

legalize it.

[blue_onyx]

17. MI is half way there

since we've legalized medical marijuana. I wonder what percentage of people would support legalizing it altogether? I haven't seen any polls on this recently. I was surprised by the lack of strong opposition our medical marijuana proposal received. Maybe legalizing marijuana wouldn't be as controversial as many politicians probably think it is.

[RantinRavin]

18. Not really, when it comes to prisons

Most people under the control of Michigan Department of Corrections have been sentenced to term in excess of two years, not the small senteces held for simple possesion that are served in the county jails.

[jwirr]

20. I was thinking nation wide - glad to hear that MI is doing it that way.

[notadmblnd]

16. Release non violent offenders, ie the casual marijuana user jailed for possession

Then legalize the shit. Viola! Prison budget crisis solved.