Comments on: Correcting Corrections

By: D. Hoffner

D. Hoffner — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:40:24 +0000

I wonder if the people yelling about all the people locked up in the M.D.O.C. have bothered to compare how many mentally ill people Mich. has compared to other states. Under the Engler administration the mental health system was dismanteled and personal and family accountabilty was the watchword of the day. There is a significant amount of mental heath people in the prison system now I bet if you compare other states mental health spending is higher than Mich. Mich actually has mental and prison people combined and is doing double duty in this area.The simple solution if you don't want to pay for what you got DON'T ARREST anyone and waste the money prosecuting anyone and let the mentally ill roam free and commit crimes instead of treating them. Thank you.

By: ShY

ShY — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:18:09 +0000

There's a need for a physical look at what's going on in prison, not just how to pay for it. The mental abuse of being caged while there with no rehabilitation, and learning a new way to survive makes the prisoners worst than they were before they went in. They bring the prison system back with them, and THEY ARE coming back to ours streets. The system isn't making us safer, Michigan IS MAKING MONSTERS and we're paying for it in more ways than one.

By: John Willson

John Willson — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:48:59 +0000

My Opinion: The large growth in the prison population is the prison building program initiated by John Engler. A number of people and organizations knew this at the time: Build prisons and they will be filled with people. And, presto, that did and is continuing to happen. At this point in time the Senate will not allow the Governor to reduce funds hollering "the public has got to be safe. Let 'these folks and they will harm citizens'. I have never seen a good public discussion on the safeguards that are available and the security that DOC can provide. I sent Nancy Short a note on this very thing and heard nothing. To me, the Reform Michigan Government Now, has the best chance of bringing about change in prisons because there is an element of force involved. I would appreciate your comments on this and the detailed piece I sent to Nancy on 7/3/08. Thanks.