Reform coalition calls for deeper Michigan prison cuts

A coalition of business and education groups, including The Center for Michigan, today issued a new letter to Governor Jennifer Granholm and legislators urging deeper cuts and reforms to the $1.9 billion Michigan prison system.

READ THE COALITION STATEMENT HERE.

While applauding the Department of Corrections and leaders for strong improvements in the past year, the coalition argued there is much more to be done to control prison system costs, which account for more than 20 percent of the state general fund budget.

In particular, the coalition urged the Granholm Administration to cut prison personnel costs, which are more than 10 percent higher than the average of eight Great Lakes States, according to Census data. The coalition also urged the Legislature to take up any number of prison reform bills that have languished in the capitol for more than a year.

The coalitions also noted that, this year, Michigan will spend $400 million more on prisons than universities. In contrast, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to reverse a similar trend. “Choosing universities over prisons… This is a historic and transforming realignment of California’s priorities,” Governor Schwarzenegger said in his state of the state address earlier this month. “What does it say about any state that focuses more on prison uniforms than on caps and gowns? It simply is not healthy.”

The coalition urged Governor Granholm to take up Governor Schwarzenegger’s challenge.

“We believe that continued reforms can reduce corrections spending in Michigan to a level lower than university appropriations,” the coalition said in its letter.

The governor’s state of the state and budget addresses in coming weeks offer the next chance for state leaders to act on calls for prison reform.