Budget Shortfalls Highlight Bad Corrections Policies

Coronavirus restrictions have caused the state a great deal of financial hardship, and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is no exception. The state budget for the MDOC is roughly $2.2 billion for 2020. A deficit of nearly $400 billion has been covered by federal funds, but next year's budget is anticipating cuts of at least 25-35% in the corrections budget. It is yet unclear how state lawmakers anticipate saving such a massive amount of money. 

One possible way the state could save money on its massive corrections budget is by reducing its prison population. The state of Michigan has the lowest crime rate in over 50 years, but it continues to incarcerate its prisoners for longer average sentences than any of the Midwestern states. The state has recently acted to reduce criminal sanctions for minor driving infractions, some of which had included incarceration. In strongly bipartisan action, the state trimmed or eliminated jail time requirements for several driving offenses, and has encouraged non-jail sentences for low level offenses, as well as eased punishments for some minor offenses committed by parolees. 

This recent legislative criminal justice reform is an encouraging sign. However, lawmakers could do more. A recent bid to put a ballot measure before the people in November targets the state's truth in sentencing law. The ballot measure would restore the ability for Michigan's prisoners to earn reductions in prison sentences for good behavior in prison, including voluntary participation in education and vocational opportunities, and maintaining a job in prison. Unfortunately, the state has staunchly opposed the ballot measure, including using court action to try to keep the initiative off of the ballot in November. 

Thankfully, the federal courts have disagreed with Michigan, so far, and the ballot initiative is currently slated for inclusion on November's ballot. For more information on this initiative, visit www.mprca.info.

Although many prison reform advocates would argue for reduced prison sanctions on both moral and economic grounds, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the state's wasteful corrections spending. Rather than making drastic cuts to education funding, reinforcing the school to prison pipeline, courageous lawmakers ought to take this opportunity to rethink the state's prison industrial complex policies. Excessive punishments do not make communities safer. They only serve to drain the state budget and give some lawmakers political points for being "tough on crime." But we can no longer afford to pay the outrageous costs, with very little benefit, of mass incarceration. 

To cut 25-35% from the corrections budget is going to take drastic policy changes. And if the legislature won't do it, it's time for Michigan's citizens to use their political voices--vote FOR the Michigan Prisoner Rehabilitative Credit Act in November.