Citizens Alliance on Prisons & Public Spending

Addressing the social and economic costs of prison expansion

    

Research Reports

Publications based on research conducted  by CAPPS.

The high cost of denying parole: an analysis of prisoners eligible for release
 

No way out: Michigan's parole board redefines the meaning of 'life'
 

Penny-wise & pound-foolish: Assaultive offender programming and Michigan's prison costs
 

Foreign Nationals in Michigan Prisons: an examination of the prison costs.

When 'life' did not mean life: A historical analysis of life sentences imposed in Michigan since 1900.

 

 

EPIC-MRI poll results:  Public supports CAPPS' recommendations

In Focus

 

Detroit Renaissance plan to reshape state spending includes reducing state's prison population.  See here.
 
CAPPS' Six Strategies (see here) are being recognized as valuable guides in reducing the size of the Corrections' budget.  See below the Oakland Press editorial.
< State prisons too expensive, ineffective at reform
 
CAPPS Executive Director Barbara Levine was the keynote speaker at a Sept. 20 conference in Grand Rapids on prison reform.  Click here to read her remarks. 
 
Booth columnist Peter Luke calls for non-partisan commission to recommend corrections reforms for adoption by legislature.  

"Such a commission could make the tough calls as to who should be in prison and who shouldn't. And how long a felon sentenced to prison should remain there for a given offense.

"Specific changes in sentencing guidelines, parole standards and diversion programs that at a minimum should keep the mentally ill out of
prison could then be forwarded to the Legislature. So too could a recommendation on the prisons that could then be closed.

"For an up or down vote."

Click here to read the column

 

Spring 2008 Consensus

2009 proposed MDOC budget expected to exceed $2 billion; number of prisoners not to decline.

Former MDOC director urges restoration of earned credits, earlier entry to community programs.

May 2 conference coverage. Speakers cite lack of political will in making changes, underfunding for prevention programs.

Click here for full edition in PDF format

 

Growth in Michigan's Corrections System
Historical and Comparative Perspectives

Influential nonprofit public affairs research organization report says:

"The single most important contributing factor in the growth of Michigan's incarceration rate has been average prisoner length of stay, which lengthened from 28.4 months in prison in 1981 to 43.5 months by 2005."

Click here to see full report.

 

Report from Pew Charitable Trust reveals Michigan      to be one of four states that spends more on prisons   than on higher education.  Click below to see the  report:
     
One in 100: Behind Bars In American 2008

 

What we could buy if we didn't spend so much on keeping so many people in prison:

 WWW.BalancingOurPriorities.org

 
 
 
 

 Contact CAPPS at: 403 Seymour Ave., Suite 200
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517-482-7753
Fax:     517-482-7754
E-Mail: capps@capps-mi.org

 

 

 

New profile   alert!

Faces behind
the figures


Terry Clark
Technical Rule Violator


Aldo Gallina
Denied Parole


Robert Weisenauer
Parolable Lifer

 
 

The meaning of life:
Restoring fairness to Michigan's

parole system

A video presentation on the plight of parolable lifers.  Click on your preferred format below:

Windows Media (Internet Explorer users only)
Real Player
Quick Time

Note: Those with dial-up modems may not be able to view this presentation.

More about the video and how to order it

See more details on the issues involved

 

 
“Under cool appraisal we might well discover that we have more prisons than we need, rather than too few. That is because many offenders present little risk of further serious harm and do not require incarceration for public safety.”

 --- William Kime, Former Deputy Director Michigan Department of Corrections
 

 

Many documents are in PDF format, which you can read by downloading free software at:
Free Adobe Reader®
software