With critical state
services facing drastic cuts, too much money is
spent on prisons that could fund programs for
children and the elderly, support higher education
and cultural institutions, protect the environment,
and pay fire fighters and police.
• Even with 7,500
fewer prisoners, the MDOC budget continues to grow.
The average annual cost per prisoner exceeds
$34,500. Every day, taxpayers spend more than $5.3
million to operate prisons and to supervise 61,000
probationers and 21,000 parolees.
• The MDOC’s share of General Fund spending was 5%
in 1983; now it exceeds 23%.
• Despite the need for a well-educated workforce to
revitalize its economy, Michigan spends $375 million
more on corrections than on colleges and
universities.
• Far too often, we don’t treat people with mental
illness or substance abuse problems until they have
committed a crime. Among Michigan prisoners, 20% are
mentally ill and 60% were addicted to drugs
and/or alcohol.
“Every dollar we
spend on incarcerating someone is a dollar
that’s not available for public education, or
economic development, or any of the other things
the state does.”
-- Patricia Caruso, director, Michigan
Department of Corrections, 2003-present
