Michigan like many states is facing a major budget crisis. 

The new motto for many state governments......Going Out of Business!

One way many states as well as Michigan are seeing a way to cut costs is reducing the prison population.

Some of the non-violent crimes people are incarcerated for will find themselves free because of the budget cuts.  I personally don't have any problem with low level or non-violent crime prisoners being released early.  I think they probably should have been on a supervision program in the beginning.

Laws have changed drastically over the last few decades.  The war on drugs has found young teenagers being put away.  Not that they didn't do something wrong...but even young men and woman that are first time offenders go to jail for a mandatory sentence based on the quantity and type of substance they were selling.  "Selling" is the key word.  Many were not selling but because of the quantity they were categorized as selling and distribution.

That is only one category being considered.  The cuts could save up to 120 million in costs.  The down side it lays off another 1000 workers employed by the prison system.  Housing prisoners and the associated costs to maintain and guard them is not a cheap proposition.

The inmates being considered have already served past their minimum sentences according to the release proposal.

Governor Granholm has been pretty quit on the prospect of getting 2.4 billion dollars coming into Michigan under the federal stimulus package.  Very little has been said about how the stimulus package will be used in Michigan.

We are all waiting for those details...one thing for sure we have a problem and it will take all of us keeping an eye on it and sending emails to our prospective representatives to let them know we care and are watching!

Any thoughts?