Hundreds of Michigan prison inmates convicted of violent crimes are eligible for release in the next two months as the state accelerates paroles to cut costs. A list of thousands of potential parolees obtained by the Detroit News gives a snapshot of who is on deck as the state seeks to trim its corrections budget by 6 percent in 2010. It includes some of the state's worst criminals, as well as hundreds of sex offenders, drug dealers, drunken drivers, and bank robbers.
The list, demanded by Detroit prosecutors and released only after a judge's order, provides a glimpse inside a process that has been going on routinely for years -- but is under fire from law enforcement officials worried they don't have the time or resources to challenge potential parolees they believe pose a threat to public safety. Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper led the fight to sue for the information because her office was repeatedly denied information about planned interviews of parole candidates in sufficient time to appeal cases. "The Michigan Department of Corrections says 'trust us' in releasing criminals on parole to save money," said Cooper, who has called the state's effort "reckless."
Posted by rosemary kenney
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 10:23
i have a son that has done everything…..he could to show he could better his self but they just keep shooting him down on parole hes not even asking to get paroled in michigan his whole family moved to tennessee hes already went 4 years pass his minimun his max is 2013 and it seems like they are holding him back because that judge did not like him hes did evey class plus some his ged and everthing they ask of him twice i think they just have it out for him but they let these sex offenders out i know what he did wasnt right but hes showed what he did was wrong so i need some one to help me gary lankford 216617gus harrison correctional facility 2727e beecher st adrian michigan 49221 i no he would never do anything again to go back to prison if someone gave us a chance hes not even wanting to hang around his old croud of friends i wish some one could help us