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| State must release information about prisoners up for parole |
| By dailytribune.com |
| Published: 07/01/2009 |
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Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper has filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections saying the state has not turned over information about prisoners being considered for release. Cooper says the department has refused her repeated requests for a list of inmates who will be interviewed by the parole board this year. The information is critical, and we support the prosecutor in this effort. The Department of Corrections recently announced it will close five camps and three prisons this year, which will save an estimated $120 million and result in the loss of about 4,000 beds. We're glad the department is trying to save money but, obviously, the type of prisoner being released may or may not be a danger to the public. We know the Corrections Department will try to minimize the threat of parolees to the public but letting local prosecutors and police agencies know in advance who they are just makes sense. If there is a prisoner who is being considered for release who Cooper knows could be a danger to citizens, then she should oppose such actions, if legally possible. And if the prisoner is still released over Cooper's objections, then at least local communities can prepare accordingly. As Cooper said in a news release, "It was hoped that by obtaining this list in advance, area prosecutors might be able to share information with the MDOC that might help avoid the release of a dangerous individual back into the community." The news release from Cooper says under the MDOC's "Rightsizing Prisons" program, it plans to "accelerate the release of MDOC prisoners who have not served their maximum sentences," with between 3,000 and 5,000 prisoners released by October as a cost-savings measure. Cooper is rightly concerned that prisoners who have served a minimum sentence and are released could become repeat offenders. State officials claim that they are not doing anything differently this year than last year and that the parole board "absolutely will not release anyone from prison who hasn't served their minimum sentence and who would be a risk to the public." That sounds good, but, realistically, there's always the possibility with any prisoner released that he or she may repeat the crimes. Obviously, depending upon the individual, the recidivism chances are much higher with some people than others. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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