LANSING, MI (WTVB) – It’s legislation that would have a direct impact on Branch County.
A large package of bills reforming Michigan’s prison and probation process is now before the State House where it died last year.
The aim of the 21 bills is to cut the prison budget by reducing the inmate population. The method is to try to turn offenders into productive citizens, rather than just let prisons devolve into colleges for crime.
Senator John Proos of St. Joseph is the lead sponsor. He says the 21-bill package is a chance to make communities safer, prevent violent crimes and save tax dollars at the same time.
Some of the more controversial elements have been altered and some measures added to try to put it over the top as it heads back to the State House.
Included in the package are grants for businesses to hire people on parole or probation. The state would also be banned from giving cash or food assistance to people who abscond from parole.
