Michigan Votes Forum

it's ancient history.

It's one of the biggest in the country, and there is a fight underway on how to bring the prison system in line with a shrinking state budget. We would like to hear from you about what you think should or could be done. Should the system be shrunk to save money? Do you feel safer with more than 50,000 locked up, or is crime still a concern? What can be done to curb crime? Do you feel safe? Also, is prison funding too much of a political hot potato or is not enough being done to keep people safe? Your thoughts on the state's prison system: With the state in financial trouble and concern about criminal behavior, what should Michigan's leaders do with the Department of Corrections? Coppy and paste the website below into your address bar to give your thoughts. http://204.176.34.90/edit/prisonparole.asp

not all of these inmates are villians or monsters strict guidelines should be followed in releases circumstances are different for each person some people deserve a second chance. this is gods world and he will do the judgeing. maybe you need to think of being somebody elses shoes

In Michigan it's only going to get worse than better because the great loss of jobs and homes. Michigan law-makers need to really sit down and re-think their stratgies. Michigan prisons are getting larger and larger with out a solution to solving some of theses men and women issues. There needs to be some type of programs to help them prepare for the out-side world. Michigan is known across the world, when it comes to their prison systems. There need to be a change and quickly. The good time for time serve, is a good program only if the prisoner has taken the steps to complete the necessary programs to become a real citizen. The prisons basically know who would make a change coming out into the real world. You law-makers need to sit-down and ponder what is a good solution. If this don't happen soon then Michigan will be in a bad state. This is happening now. Michigan needs a change and the only way it's going to happen is to just do it.

THEY SHOULD...THEY MURDERED SOMEONE AND TOOK AWAY THEIR LIFE AND ENDED THE SUFFERING. MY RAPIST CSC1 MURDERED ME 30 YEARS AGO AND I SUFFER EVERYDAY, HE TOOK AWAY MY LIFE BUT MY SUFFERERING NEVER ENDS AND IT CARRIES THROUGH TO EVERY RELATIONSHIP AND BOTH OF MY CHILDREN AND NO DOUBT THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. MURDERERS HAVE LESS THAN A 2% RECIDISISM RATE...UNLIKE RAPIST'S WHO HAVE OVER A 95% REPEAT OFFENDER RATE!! THOSE CSC 3 AND 4 SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTERY WHY? MANY? MOST? ARE CONSENSUAL ACTS BROUGHT ON BY VINDICTIVE GIRLFRIENDS OR THEIR PARENTS ...THE CSC 1 AND 2 - MOST LIKELY - HAVE EARNED THE DISTINCTION OF BEING A "VIOLENT" SEX OFFENDER OR ONE WHO HAS CROSSED A MORALLY REPUGNENT LINE IE., A FAMILY MEMBER, A CHILD, ETC. AS A CSC1 RAPE VICTIM I FULLY SUPPORT THE BILL FOR BONUS GOOD TIME TO RELEASE THOSE INMATES OR GIVE A GOOD TIME BONUS TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED MATURE GOOD CONDUCT OVER A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME, HAVE FULFILLED ALL OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, EDUCATIONAL, WORKED AND (AT LEAST ATTEMPTED) RETRIBUTION AT A MINIMUM SHOULD BE GIVEN A BONUS OF EARLY PAROLE TIME. PUT THEM ON A TETHER AND MAKE MORE MONY FOR THE STATE BUT AT LEAST GIVE THEM A CHANCE FOR A LIFE AND SOCIAL SECURITY RATHER ANOTHER FUTURE FINANCIAL BURDEN. ANYONE CAN PUT ON A FRONT FOR A YEAR OR TWO BUT 10 OR 15 YEARS IN GENERAL POPULATION WITHOUT ANY TICKETS OR VIOLATIONS...ONLY A TRUELY REHABILITATED INMATE CAN CONTINUE A PATTERN OF GOOD BEHAVIOR THAT IS SINCERE - WITHOUT EVENTUALLY "SNAPPING". IF A PERSON HAS BEEN A MODEL INMATE FOR SAY 10 YEARS - WITH NO VIOLATIONS - AND IS STILL LOOKING A ANOTHER 20 YEARS? (OR EVEN LIFE?) DON'T YOU THINK HE SHOULD BE GIVEN SAY 10 YEARS OFF THE 20? GIVING HIM THE HOPE THAT IN 10 MORE YEARS, IF HE CONTINUES HIS GOOD BEHAVIOR, HE WILL BE RELEASED? OR LIFE - FOR EVERY 10 YEARS OF GOOD BEHAVIOR - YOU GIVE 10 YEARS OFF? THIS WOULD GIVE THEM A GLIMMER OF HOPE AND INCENTIVE TO CONTINUE THEIR GOOD BEHAVIOR AND INFLUENCE OTHER INMATES AS WELL TO NOT ACT LIKE ANIMALS, NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY FACTORS FOR THE GUARDS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE INMATES DOING 20 YEARS NOW HAVE TO CONTINUALLY WATCH FOR THE NATURAL LIFERS - THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY MESSING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ALMOST OUT THE DOOR AFTER 20 YEARS - GETTING HIM A TICKET (BECAUSE THE INNOCENT GUY WILL GET ONE - IT MATTERS NOT WHO WAS AT FAULT OR STARTED IT AND THEIR IS NO "SELF-DEFENSE" ARGUEMENT IN PRISON)MISERY LOVES COMPANY...THEN THE ONE WHO ALMOST ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE - DUE TO NO FAULT OF HIS OWN IS NOW DENIED PAROLE BECAUSE OF ANOTHER INMATE. THE LIFERS SHOULD BE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD, WHEREIN THE ONLY PEOPLE THEY CAN SCREW WITH ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE EITHER - RATHER THAN SOMEONE WHO HAS ALOT TO LOSE. PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS AND SEE THE WIN-WIN TO IT! OUR MDOC INMATE NUMBERS IN 1995 WERE ONLY 240,000 INMATES SINCE THE PRISON SYSTEM NUMBERING BEGAN BACK IN 1940'S? THAT IS 240,000 INMATES ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM FROM 1940'S? TO 1994...240,000 OVER 40 YEARS...OUR NUMBERS NOW SINCE 1994 AT 240,000 THROUGH JULY 2008 IN THE LAST 14 YEARS ARE OVER 691,500 INMATES IN THE SYSTEM. THAT'S AN INCREASE IN 14 YEARS .... 14 YEARS .... OF 451,500 INMATES? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??? OH THEY DIDN'T HAVE DRUGS IN 1940? THEY DIDN'T HAVE CARS? THEY DIDN'T HAVE RAPES? THEY DIDN'T HAVE MURDERS? ARMED ROBBERY? B&E'S? YES THEY DID!!! BUT THIS GETTING TOUGH ON CRIME IS A CROCK OF CRAP THEY ONLY TAKE AWAY A PERSONS HOPE. IF YOU ARE GETTING LIFE FOR A RAPE - WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST MURDER THE VICTIM? BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN - HA!! LIFE...BUT AT LEAST YOU LEFT NOT WITNESSES! PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS! AND SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE!! IT MAKES GOOD SENSE FOR ALL OF US!!! I FOR ONE DON'T WANT TO PAY TAXES TO FEED AN INMATE FOR 40-70 YEARS WHO HAD A 1ST DEGREE RETAIL FRAUD CASE AGAINST WALMART AND TARGET!! DO YOU????

The histrionics about your having been "murdered" by the person who raped you 21 years ago. You were raped, which is a nasty crime. But you survived. You weren't murdered. That is a simple fact. Otherwise, you would not be around to whine about your victimhood 21 years after the crime that victimized you. Yes, you were left psychologically scarred by your traumatic experience. That's a shame. If your assailant has been arrested, tried, convicted and properly sentenced for the crime, you have been given the satisfaction you are due for it in our justice system. You are going to have to be satisfied with that, and get on with your life.

Oh how I pray that someone, somewhere will help me to understand how my Grandson, who at 18 was sentenced to 3 to 5 years in level one prison for missing a probation oficers meeting. He was given 18 months probation for a few flakes of MJ going into jail (contraband). The Judge had said when he was sentenced to the 18 months that If he (my grandson) ever appeared before him again "for anything" he would "send him down the river" . My Grandson is bipolar, this was never serviously considered in the PSI. There must be some kind of justice. I paid good $$$ for an appeal which did not get a decent look. Anybody have any guiding signs???

They are only there because of decisions they made because they weren't supervised enough. When the nannies get control over everything there won't be any crime and we can save all that money we waste on jails. Why can't you people see that the mean capitalists and freedom lovers are truly the evil ones?

Hey I see nothing has changed here. I will check back later to see if our Legislators are back from vacation and ready to get to work seriously on the Mi. ecocnomy.

How is your Grandson doing? I pray all is well.

Where in the hell is our governor??? When are we going to be blown away????? Way to go Michigan, She is a complete loser!!!!

He is doing great. I am having a nice summer too. How is yours Sandie?

Every time I go visit my son I pass your city and I pray all is well with your family. I have a new Grandson born on 8-8-8!

the your beloved troll is alive and well. we are too, thanks for asking. i notice you have kept him from the keyboard for a while. what happened? you finally spanked him? congratulations for keeping the highest incarceration rate in the nation going by allowing the police to trample people's rights. congratulations for freeing heinous criminals by putting dollars before people. thanks for showing our legislators that this bill shouldn't be even looked at, much less VOTED ON.

At least she helped get rid of that big tub of lard in Detroit.

the news media got rid of him, they kept on putting up his story till no one could be looked in the eye by him. he 'left' office because he could no longer stand the embarassment. just goes to show how powerful the media can be on BOTH sides of the isle.

...you're both wrong. He left office as part of his plea deal.

Amen nothing going on with REFORM in michigan

I will pray that who ever this mean spirited evil person . will go to prison for life. Or that someone he really loves If its capible of LOVE goes to prison. He/she is one sick puppy. Bitter and hateful. I am surprised they dont block him.

You have to totally disregard this person. They are miserible so they want others to join them, do not give them that pleasure. Isn't it amazing that someone with such a little brain has such a big head. Congradulations Sandy on your new grand baby. I hope you have had a nice summer. I have and my grandson is doing great.

I think this State's correction facilities is very much over crowded and the facilities i have visited are very poorly kept. The water system in the Ionia Deerfield Correction Facility is discusting. The water smells very bad and I wouldn't drink any wather from that facility that isn't bottled from the vending machines. The PA there don't care about the inmates health i know one inmate personnaly and he has been having many medical problems that aren't being taken care of. The Counselors there don't care about the inmates and make snide remarks about being homosexual to the inmates. They also make suggestive comments to some of the inmates about doing favors if they get the sexual favor they ask for then the inmates will get what they want. To me this is very discusting and way out of order for any counselor to be even suggesting such things. I believe that the facility should have a good look at by someone in athority and fire some of the employees there that make these rude comments. Prisoners shouldn't have to put up with that kind of behavior from their counselors or any other State employee as for that matter. If you don't post this comment then i will just take it this site is also crooked and corrupt. Thank you

I also think that this bill should be passed and let some of the men in the prison systems have a second chance especially if they have changed their lives around completely. I know one man in the prison system that has been in for 23 years and he has been ordained a minister since his incarceration. He is a very polite young man that when he was young did as young men do. They think they need to be big and bad and go down the wrong path of life and end up in prison because of it. But after 23 years he should have the chance to get his habitual sentencing removed so he may go before the parole board and plead his new case as a Minister of God and tell the people what his plans are when he does finely get out on parole. No one seems to care about that though he has followed every step that they tell him to take to the tee and then just to get told well you don't deserve another chance that is just plain ludicruis. He does deserve a second chance to prove to the parole board and all his peers that he can save a few young men or even women from going down the path he took and end up in prison for 30-80 years for a simple robbery. Yes a man did get shot in the leg but he didn't get killed. the co-defendent ended up getting off with no time to serve. So what kind of justice is that?

yes everyone needs a second chance we all need to come together and be heard about this bill.the inmates have no voice so we must speak out for them.please pass the bill

needs a second chance. but you seem to think that every inmate DOES. are none of them TRULY GUILTY? DON'T ANY OF THEM deserve to do all of their time? if not, then you need to change more than this law could possibly accomplish. you need to revise the entire law enforcement system in michigan. a tall order, especially with the current administration in office.

Dear Friends: In a few weeks MichiganVotes will receive a new look and several new features. The centerpiece of the new “MichiganVotes 2.0” will be to move conversations like this one right onto the home page via a full-feature discussion forum software package. More than anyone else those who have engaged the prison reform issue have demonstrated how a community of passionate interest can come together on this website. The new features will enhance that. I want to get your input on one likely change: Don’t you get weary of mostly talking to “anonymous user?” Most websites require registration and a username to post comments. We haven’t in part because the current site doesn’t “remember” you, and requires users to log-on every time they open it. The new site will “remember” you. As is common with most interactive websites registration requires giving an email, but the Privacy Policy posted under the “About this site” link (left side of page) says this: “MichiganVotes does not release (nor has it ever released) to third parties any personal identifying information of past or current website visitors, including registered users, without express permission, except as required by law.” What do you think? Please e-mail me directly with your views. Regards, Jack McHugh MichiganVotes Editor mchugh@mackinac.org

I know you don't realise it now but in a few years you will thank the judge fo what he has done. The best thing you can do is pray that your grandson will use the time he is in prison, see his past mistakes and change his walk in life.

I am a rape victim and I do still agree with good time and early release of inmates . We are all human they do deserve second chances to. I hope God softens your heart to pass this bill just as well as God help me forgive my assaulter . God have given me more than a second chance and I am sure he did for you all to . Take care and God bless.

Can we get site stats? It would be powerful to see the number of hits on certain issues. If you can put in a name search engine.

i have to say i agree with giving prisoners good time back because of the fact that how do you expect a person to act if they dont have consequences? if they dont have a reward system it will never work. they dont have to do good for their own behalf they have to behave because they are told to do so... which immediately as we all know isnt going to happen. its like putting a kid in time out they dont really feel any remorse for what they did because they dont have really anything taken away just a few moments of their time which is already taken away anyways (as far as convicts go). i think if good time was given back they would actually think about what they are doing before they do it because they all want to go home. my fiance is an inmate and he has gotten one ticket and that was the only one for 3 years. now what he shouldnt recieve anything? its a hard enough to stay out of trouble when you are constantly around it but i think he deserves good time he has not fought once or had anything major happen that shows that he is a "menice to society" and im sure there are more guys in there just like him that deserve it as well.

I was wondering if fl corrections is passing a bill inmates for earley release

WHY DOES FL CORRECTIONS DO 85 PERSENT OF THERE TIME AND MOST PLACES DO 7 21 I THINK THAT IS WRONG . SOME PEOPLE NEVER EVER REALLY HAD A CHANCE AT LIFE AND WHEN THERE IN FRONT OF A JUDGE IN FL IT IS LIKE THE DEATH PENILTY . I

This would be a great ideal to introduce this bill to give the man and women hope in their lives. They would be able to set goals to making corrections to the mistake made in their pass. Everyone needs a chance for change.

has chances, but not UNLIMITED chances. yourplan gives no incentive for improvement, as there will ALWAYS be ANOTHER CHANCE to improve. why should anyone REALLY improve when all you have to do is keep failing and asking for more chances?

But not unlimited chances!!!

about the fact that people need "another chance", and another, and another, and another. where do you draw the line? at what point do you say ENOUGH? how many chances do you give someone?

Just wanted to say I still support this bill.

Statements by a man/woman who is a coward and cant creat a user name to post along with his ignorance....

Dear Friends: In a few weeks MichiganVotes will receive a new look and several new features. Check out the MichiganVotes 2.0 "beta" site at http://beta.michiganvotes.org/. Note: There are known glitches, and any comments posted there will disappear when the actual site goes live in the next couple weeks. The centerpiece of the new site will be to move conversations like this one right onto the home page via a full-feature discussion forum software package. More than anyone else those who have engaged the prison reform issue have demonstrated how a community of passionate interest can come together on this website. The new features will enhance that. I want to get your input on one likely change: Don’t you get weary of mostly talking to “anonymous user?” Most websites require registration and a username to post comments. We haven’t in part because the current site doesn’t “remember” you, and requires users to log-on every time they open it. The new site will “remember” you. As is common with most interactive websites registration requires giving an email, but the Privacy Policy posted under the “About this site” link (left side of page) says this: “MichiganVotes does not release (nor has it ever released) to third parties any personal identifying information of past or current website visitors, including registered users, without express permission, except as required by law.” What do you think? Please e-mail me directly with your views. Regards, Jack McHugh mchugh@mackinac.org

on this site, you hear from lots of people who don't log on for one reason or another, but if anonymity wasn't a right,we COULDN'T post without logging on. now, what difference does it make to you to know to whom you are speaking? the only differences it could possibly make are that you have to make your 'points' stick, and you can't make personal attacks.

wanted to say that I still oppose this bill. I'm still waiting for someone to explain how this bill will reduce recidivism, which is only rewarded by gratuitous early release.