yesterday I read that Mich. is closing 8 prisons because of economy

[ensho]

didn't get the link.

eight is alot of prisons. how was that managed, I wonder. other states have been thinking of doing the same.

[msongs]

1. yeah but all those prisoners are completely INNOCENT. just ask em & they'll tell you nt

[blue_onyx]

2. Well, it was managed because we have no choice

We have a pretty big budget deficit and something has to be done. Increasing tax won't happen, especially after the 2007 increase which took a budget shut down to achieve. We've been cutting things for 8 years and have to continue to find things to eliminate.

Here's a link:

http://freep.com/article/20090606/NEWS06/906060348/8+prison+closings+in+state+criticized

[ensho]

3. I meant how was the prison emptied? how were the inmates

moved around. to other instate prisons? many released? etc.

[blue_onyx]

4. They haven't been closed yet

Our governor only announced the closings yesterday. According to the article:

"About 4,600 prisoners will be transferred to other facilities, as an aggressive program to parole more prisoners who have served minimum sentences opens more beds."

[ensho]

5. ok, thanks

nt

[ThomCat]

6. Maybe the economy will force us to stop incarcerating

a ridiculously high percentage of our population for totally asinine reasons. Maybe this will lead to some sentencing and judicial reform.

It would be nice if people who can be given community service and parole were given that instead of being shoved into prison.

It would be nice if drug offenders were given treatment instead of prison, and if drug laws could be reformed.

It would be nice if we could get the prison industry's lobbyists out of the decision making over laws and whether or not to build prisons. They have profit motive in building more prisons, and in making laws more harsh to fill them.

[ensho]

7. agree

nt

[tomreedtoon]

8. They can't release them, and they can't stop arresting...

...and they will have no place to put them. What possible solution will the state have?

Well, remember the "Texas Miracle" that had the grade point average of the state raise? By dumping the failing students into other categories? Why not throw away those prisoners too?



Michigan reports prison populations are down. The governor reports an astonishing number of prisoners, feeling guilt for having ruined General Motors, have spontaneously committed suicide.