Post by Frizzy on Mar 30, 2009 15:21:19 GMT -5
Inmate releases are risk to public safety
By heraldpalladium.com
Published: 03/30/2009
Michigan DOC says releases are safe and fiscally responsible
By WILLIAM F. AST III - H-P Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, March 28, 2009 1:08 PM EDT
LANSING - State Rep. John Proos said Gov. Granholm is putting public safety at risk through a state corrections budget that releases prisoners to make up for budget shortfalls.
But a corrections spokesman said the department carefully screens prisoners before freeing them and has started support systems so that they can successfully re-enter society.
"There is a real opportunity here for true government reform, taxpayer savings, and most importantly, keeping our streets safe," Proos, R-St. Joseph, wrote in a press release. "The governor has predicated her corrections budget on releasing nearly 3,886 prisoners. That is unacceptable, especially without first considering reforms and cost-saving measures."
The governor should look for opportunities for reform, Proos said. Instead, her budget for the Michigan Department of Corrections would release 147 prisoners a day until Oct. 1, he said.
"Public safety should not be put at risk so the state can pay for $30 million in pay raises for corrections employees," said Proos. "Employees in the private sector certainly are not seeing pay increases. The mentality that government services should be held harmless despite today's current economy has to stop, and the state's expenditures and services need to be brought back in line with the economic realities of the state."
John Cordell, public information officer for the corrections department, said the department carefully evaluates prisoners before releasing them.
"Can we ensure that none of these 3,000 prisoners ever commit a crime again? No, we can't," Cordell said. "Nor can we assure the 12,000 prisoners we parole every year won't commit a crime again."
By heraldpalladium.com
Published: 03/30/2009
Michigan DOC says releases are safe and fiscally responsible
By WILLIAM F. AST III - H-P Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, March 28, 2009 1:08 PM EDT
LANSING - State Rep. John Proos said Gov. Granholm is putting public safety at risk through a state corrections budget that releases prisoners to make up for budget shortfalls.
But a corrections spokesman said the department carefully screens prisoners before freeing them and has started support systems so that they can successfully re-enter society.
"There is a real opportunity here for true government reform, taxpayer savings, and most importantly, keeping our streets safe," Proos, R-St. Joseph, wrote in a press release. "The governor has predicated her corrections budget on releasing nearly 3,886 prisoners. That is unacceptable, especially without first considering reforms and cost-saving measures."
The governor should look for opportunities for reform, Proos said. Instead, her budget for the Michigan Department of Corrections would release 147 prisoners a day until Oct. 1, he said.
"Public safety should not be put at risk so the state can pay for $30 million in pay raises for corrections employees," said Proos. "Employees in the private sector certainly are not seeing pay increases. The mentality that government services should be held harmless despite today's current economy has to stop, and the state's expenditures and services need to be brought back in line with the economic realities of the state."
John Cordell, public information officer for the corrections department, said the department carefully evaluates prisoners before releasing them.
"Can we ensure that none of these 3,000 prisoners ever commit a crime again? No, we can't," Cordell said. "Nor can we assure the 12,000 prisoners we parole every year won't commit a crime again."