Jackson State Prison to close in July

by admin on February 21, 2007

A cost cutting measure has one of the 5 prisons in Jackson scheduled to close by July 1 of this year. Approximately 1,500 prisoners would be released (if they have served their minimum sentence) and put on parole. 425 jobs will be affected with the majority offered jobs at other prisons, but layoffs are not being ruled out either.

Michigan’s prison population is one of the highest in the Midwest at 51,000 inmates. My question is this – does Michigan have much stricter laws than other states or a higher concentration of criminals?

Another question I have is how can the state undo what the courts have done? Judges and juries have had to make decisions that put these people in prison and now the state is negating that and paroling them.

Something is very wrong/strange with Michigan’s prison system. Our state’s population is steadily declining yet our prison population keeps rising.

Yet another aspect of our state that needs fixing.

Read the full article in the Detroit Free Press.

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  2. Why is Our State Legislature so Expensive?
  3. Is the Michigan State Fair the nation’s oldest?
  4. Governor Granholm to Deliver State of the State Address Wednesday
  5. More Bad News – Detroit Zoo Could Close

{ 3 comments }

Lisa February 26, 2007 at 5:59 pm

If Michigan’s prison population is one of the highest in the Midwest, how can they possibly afford to close even one?

Andrew March 1, 2007 at 7:10 am

Lisa,

Good question. I wondered that myself. Do we suddenly loosen our laws and have judges give more lenient sentences in order to keep people out of prison?

babysteps March 3, 2007 at 7:07 pm

RECALL GRANHOLM! CLEAN HOUSE IN LANSING

CHECK OUT THE MICHIGAN FAIR TAX PROPOSAL http://www.FultonSheen.us

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