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| Michigan must get smarter about prison sentencing |
| By detroitnews.com- Bill DeBoer |
| Published: 12/03/2014 |
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As the cost of crime and punishment continues to rise, it’s time for Michigan to take a hard look at the rate of return on Department of Corrections spending and decide whether it’s wise to keep those dollars locked up behind bars. The good news is Michigan’s prison population has dropped from 51,000 in 2006 to roughly 43,500 in 2013. But with the state still spending one of every five general fund dollars on corrections — roughly $2 billion per year — the challenge we face is simple: how can we keep low-risk offenders out of prison and reduce corrections costs in a way that would not jeopardize public safety? The recent introduction of four House Bills, 5928-5931, by State Rep. Joe Haveman, represents a major step in the right direction. The legislation would modernize the state’s community corrections system by restoring the Justice Policy Commission, creating more consistency and certainty throughout Michigan’s criminal justice system, guaranteeing that every individual released from prison receives supervision in the community. Read More. |
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