Thursday's letters to the editor

October 14, 2010

Be rational on prisons

Within one week, the LSJ printed dramatically different viewpoints on corrections spending.

Eaton County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sauter contends increased parole releases serve only to save money and cause great risk to public safety. Brad Williams of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce sees parole reform as a "great start" toward reducing the $2 billion corrections budget and recommends additional reforms.

With Michigan facing a $1.6 billion deficit in 2012, everyone must avoid emotional appeals and focus on the facts. For instance, CAPPS research shows the gain in public safety from keeping people incarcerated an extra year or two is negligible while the cost to education, police protection and treating the mentally ill who fill our prisons is huge. See www.capps-mi for more information.

Sauter is correct that public safety is government's first obligation.

But that is perfectly compatible with the Detroit Chamber's caution not to over-punish just to look tough on crime. If our goal is good policy, not politics, we must consider all the options, then make rational choices based on the evidence.

Barbara Levine
executive director, Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending
Lansing