Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010 - (Page 22)

Page M22 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS June 7, 2010 2010 Mackinac Policy Conference Some Things Never Change. A time for action 1 Correcting corrections Biz, others say prison budget needs reform BY AMY LANE CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BusinessWeek 9 248.353.5400 Lansing 517.351.2200 616.831.2200 Newsweek National Real Estate Investor National Real Estate Investor Fortune BusinessWeek LANSING — Consuming more than 20 percent of the state’s general fund budget, the Michigan’s correctional spending is a big target. At about $1.9 billion in the current fiscal year, the spending is seen by some as not only crowding out current and future state priorities but also contributing to the state’s appetite for tax dollars. The Detroit Regional Chamber and others in the business, education and nonprofit communities say corrections should be part of reforms to reduce state spending and improve Michigan’s tax climate. The topic was slated for a Friday session at the chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference. But tackling and balancing the issues embedded in an operation that employs one in every three state workers while providing a vital service is thorny. For example, Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year called for sentencing reforms and additional changes estimated to reduce the prison population by about 7,500 within four to six months of enact- more violent criminals out of ment and result in the closure of prison all while turning the sysfour to five prisons. tem on its head,” Worthy said. House Bills 4497-4499, sponsored Worthy also cited research by by George Cushthe Lexington, ingberry Jr., DKy.-based Council Detroit, would reof State Governinstate a ments that shows form of senthe average minitencing credmum sentences it for good beimposed by havior and Michigan judges also allow refor various vioinstatement lent crimes “line of a program up with miniin which a mum sentences of Kym Worthy, specified other states — so Wayne County amount of ofthat we do not fender time could need to change be served under electronic moni- our truth-in-sentencing policy,” toring outside of prison in certain she said. circumstances. Worthy said that “corrections Brad Williams, the chamber’s policy doesn’t happen in a vacudirector of government relations, um. We need to ask how we reduce said the credits, which would crime, make our communities retroactively shorten prison sen- safer, and make our state an attences as an incentive for miscon- tractive place to live by reducing duct-free behavior, are a good idea the number of people who commit and one measure “to attack some crimes and therefore go into our of our prison costs.” prisons.” But the change also has been One concern is evidenced in seen as an attack on Michigan’s CSG findings which show that “truth-in-sentencing” law that re- while Michigan has the highest viquires prisoners to serve at least olent crime rate in the Great Lakes their entire minimum sentence be- region, it also has the lowest numfore being considered for parole. ber of police per capita among Wayne County Prosecutor Kym those states, solving the fewest Worthy opposes elimination of number of violent crimes. Michitruth-in-sentencing. She said in an gan judges also sentence the lowe-mail to Crain’s that with truth- est percentage of convicted felons in-sentencing, “everyone knows to prison, Worthy said. that the convicted felon sentenced “It’s clear why we have the to prison would at least serve his worst violent crime report card in minimum sentence before parole the Midwest: We have fewer poeligibility.” She said that repre- lice, they solve fewer crimes and sents 17 percent of the 56,000 con- even when they solve them and victed Michigan felons annually. criminals are convicted felons, our “We would essentially be breakSee Page M23 ing a promise to victims, letting not need to “ We dochange our truth-insentencing policy. ” achievements. • Named one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report three years in a row. • First place in U.S. News & World Report’s review of “Up-and-Coming Schools” in the Midwest. • One of The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Midwest.” • Named one of America’s “100 Best College Buys” 14 years in a row. • Only Michigan school named one of the nation’s 25 “cutting-edge” green colleges in Kaplan’s College Guide 2009. People who know education are talking a lot about Grand Valley State University. Not only are we earning great accolades – our people, programs, and partnerships are making the state a better place. In fact, more than 91% of our recent graduates are employed or in graduate school, and 88% of those working have careers here in Michigan. Call or visit us online for more information about all our grand achievements. gvsu.edu/GRAND | 800.748.0246 | 616.331.2025 http://www.cbre.com http://www.cbre.com http://gvsu.edu/GRAND http://gvsu.edu/GRAND http://www.stop-leak.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010

Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010
In this Issue
Economic Makeover
Lesson Plan for Education Reform
Teaming Up for Action
Time for a Cultural Revolution
Defense Mechanism
Slowing the State's Brain Drain
Intern, Employers of the Year

Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010