LANSING, MI (WTVB) – New parole options for prisoners classified as “medically frail” are part of the legislation passed by the Michigan House of Representatives. The sponsors included Representative Al Pscholka of Stevensville. He believes roughly 120 prisoners would qualify every year. Pscholka says in many cases, the inmates are bedridden and abused behind bars. The legislation is part of a larger package of criminal justice reforms under consideration.
Meanwhile, a conference committee will soon be formed to merge the House and Senate budgets into one. The budget passed by the state Senate on Wednesday calls for the closing of two prisons and putting $39 million towards the water crisis in Flint.
The overall budget passed by the upper chamber is for $52 billion. The House passed its budget last week.
