Prison spending booms as state (Michigan) keeps inmates longer

[Bozita]

Source: AP

Last Updated: April 03. 2011 1:12AM
Prison spending booms as state keeps inmates longer
Kathy Barks Hoffman / Associated Press


Lansing— Michigan often keeps inmates long after other states would have released them for similar crimes, driving up prison costs by millions of dollars a year and eating up a quarter of the state's general fund.

In the two years before she left office in December, former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm encouraged the parole board to be more lenient when it came to releasing prisoners who have served their minimum sentences.

Yet a bill that would require that inmates serve 100 percent of their minimum sentence but no more than 120 percent failed to make it through the Legislature during the last two-year session. And current Republican Gov. Rick Snyder says he's more focused right now on getting his budget and tax changes passed than on parole policy.

That has left 8,000 inmates still behind bars who have served more than their minimum sentences, a practice that's costing Michigan taxpayers around $280 million annually.

Read more: http://detnews.com/article/20110403/POLITICS02/104030308/Prison-spending-booms-as-state-keeps-inmates-longer#ixzz1ITHY3p32

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The State of Michigan spends more on prisons than on its colleges and universities.

[Faygo Kid]

1. Yeah, that Snyder turned out to be a "moderate." Not.

Michigan is now bought and paid for by the Kochs.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. The quintupling of the U.S. prison population over the last 30 years is a very red flag. nt

[ixion]

7. indeed. A very, very red flag a ten miles high and a hundred miles wide

and something that seems to always be under the radar of the MSM. :grr:

[TheDebbieDee]

8. We ARE a prison nation..............

The US has 5% of the world's population yet 25% of the world's prisoners.

Only the USSR has more prisoners......China doesn't give a clue as to how many prisoners they have.

[theaocp]

3. Just wait until people get used to this shit

and our fraudulent governor privatizes the prisons. This fucker has got to go. July cannot come fast enough. I'll be hittin' the pavement. :grr:

[sarcasmo]

4. Coming from a Michigan resident who has lived in other states. This is the WORST

state to live in the country.

[Faygo Kid]

6. At least you have the lakes and northern Michigan.

I still want to retire to Traverse City, but Snyder and the GOP may prevent that from happening.

[MichiganVote]

9. Not really. The wealthy, the developers and the just plain lucky inheritors have the Great Lakes'

Inland lake prices on lots and "cottages", most of which are sodden log homes and cheapo cabins, are less in price but still over priced. The State parks continually cut back and it has cost citizens more each year to go. There is a deal now when you renew your license tag to make it more affordable but for low income families its still too much what with gas and all. There haven't been any life guards at the lower end of the lakes in decades. Slips are hugely expensive.

[sarcasmo]

10. Pretty town but many Uber rich republicans live in Traverse City.

[Faygo Kid]

12. I know. I hope to give them an infusion of good Dem attitudes.

I know it's pretty conservative, but it's not nasty like around Grand Rapids.

After all, Michael Moore is there. So is my college roommate and his wife, and they need backup.

[sarcasmo]

13. I hear yea, Grand Rapids burb here, no need to explain the religious intolerance that goes on here.

[Faygo Kid]

16. They would never elect a Gerald Ford-type anymore. Not radical enough.

I sympathize. Grand Rapids has transformed from moderate Republican to birther nuts over the last 30 years.

[Kolesar]

17. Would you move there for the skiing?

That would appeal to me. And I would love to have a sailboat in a slip.

[ProudDad]

15. I think those of us here in Arizona might differ on that...

But...we should be taking back the Commons instead of fighting over the crumbs... :hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x643803

[MichiganVote]

5. That's ok, Snyder has it covered. The Kindergarten teachers will pay for it.

And if you think I need a sarcasm tag, you're not in the right place.

[Bozita]

11. But, but, but, ... Ms. Judy Peaches is a 3rd grade teacher!

[ProudDad]

14. Let's see, Prisons for Profit

And what would be the natural result when jails and prisons are for-profit capitalist enterprises...

Hmmm?

More prisoners for longer times maybe?

It's not rocket science:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x643803