Prison Closures and Impact on Communities

The Senate passed the Corrections budget, and part of the discussions included the effects of prisoner releases and prison closings on local communities.  Senator Mark Jansen (R-Cutlerville) added an amendment to the budget requiring an examination of the economic impact on local communities from prison closures and requiring the Department of Corrections to report how much money it's saving by releasing an estimated 3,500 prisoners early.  Senator Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt) said that releasing some 4,000 prisoners through parole - and possibly as many as 3,000 more in the future – will disrupt whole communities and families, and that the $120 million projected savings is wrong.   Senator Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) offered an amendment to keep five prison camps in the upper peninsula open, but the amendment was defeated.