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| OpEd: Smarter, less costly criminal justice policies |
| By Detroit Free Press |
| Published: 09/09/2008 |
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MICHIGAN - For decades, politicians have believed that sounding tough on crime was their ticket to getting elected. Such beliefs, along with a few high-profile crimes, have generally driven prison policies over the last three decades and fueled an enormous expansion of Michigan's prison system with little, if any, improvements in public safety. But a new poll of Michigan voters, commissioned by Detroit Renaissance, on restructuring the state budget could help change that. It shows wide support for criminal justice reforms that would lead to fewer people in prison and less money spent on corrections. It's about time. Michigan's prison population of 50,000-plus is more than triple what it was 25 years ago. With a $2-billion-a-year budget for corrections, all of it state tax money, Michigan is one of only four states that spend more on prisons than on higher education. Corrections now devours 20% of the state's general fund. Michigan taxpayers are finally coming to understand that they are getting too little in return for that enormous investment. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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