After spending more money on prisons than higher education, Michigan gets serious about high cost
of corrections (the last 2 words of title didn't fit in title bar)
By Ted Roelofs | Bridge Magazine
on April 15, 2014 at 10:45 AM, updated April 15, 2014 at 10:50 AM
Since 1980, Michigan’s biggest growth industry has been its prison system.
It is a dubious distinction, as the state devotes a bigger share of its general fund budget to prisons than any other state. With annual spending of about $2 billion, Michigan pumps more money into corrections than higher education. And the state keeps its prisoners behind bars longer than the national average.
Conservatives and liberals alike are now saying it is a price Michigan can no longer afford. While opposition to change remains, critics are renewing a push for reforms that include reducing sentencing guidelines for many non-violent crimes, changes in parole procedures and release of some sick and elderly prisoners that cost upwards of $200,000 a year just for mental health and medical care.
“We better start looking for solutions now,” said state Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “This budget is going to grow not only at the expense of higher education but multiple other programs.”
full: http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/michigan_gets_serious_about_hi.html
Michigan's high prison costs have been profiled as early as 2008.