Governor Jennifer Granholm is closing one Jackson, Michigan prison and part of another. By July of this year, 500 prison employees will be transferred or laid off, and the prison population will be reduced by 1,800 beds.
The closure is the first of five in Michigan. Governor Jennifer Granholm has proposed a $122 million budget cut in the state's corrections department.
Michigan's incarceration rate is 40% higher than surrounding states. Governor Granholm hopes to cut that number by releasing close to 5,500 non-violent convicts, including car thieves and drug offenders.
The Southern Michigan Correctional Facility, which houses nearly 1,500 prisoners at a cost of $30,000 per year, according to the Jackson Citizen Patriot, will be shut down. One cell block of the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center will also be closed.
Often referred to as "Prison City," Jackson has had its share of attention. Violent riots were reported by the national media in 1952 and 1981. In 1985, two inmates walked off a prison farm and murdered a couple in their home.
On February 11 of this year, 60 Minutes featured a story on Timothy Souders. Mr. Souders, who had previously been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, was imprisoned in the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility on charges of theft and assault. During his incarceration, he attempted suicide, broke a stool, and flooded his cell. After the flooding, guards restrained him to his bed for up to seventeen hours at a time for several days until he died of thirst.
Despite all the problems, many Jackson residents are upset about the closure. The Michigan Corrections Department is the second largest employer in the area. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in Jackson was at 7.3% as of December 2006. This statistic follows the closure of TRW Automotive, which laid off 400 employees in July 2006. This year, two other Jackson area employers have announced closures that will result in job loss for at least 350 more people.
The closure is the first of five in Michigan. Governor Jennifer Granholm has proposed a $122 million budget cut in the state's corrections department.
Michigan's incarceration rate is 40% higher than surrounding states. Governor Granholm hopes to cut that number by releasing close to 5,500 non-violent convicts, including car thieves and drug offenders.
The Southern Michigan Correctional Facility, which houses nearly 1,500 prisoners at a cost of $30,000 per year, according to the Jackson Citizen Patriot, will be shut down. One cell block of the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center will also be closed.
Often referred to as "Prison City," Jackson has had its share of attention. Violent riots were reported by the national media in 1952 and 1981. In 1985, two inmates walked off a prison farm and murdered a couple in their home.
On February 11 of this year, 60 Minutes featured a story on Timothy Souders. Mr. Souders, who had previously been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, was imprisoned in the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility on charges of theft and assault. During his incarceration, he attempted suicide, broke a stool, and flooded his cell. After the flooding, guards restrained him to his bed for up to seventeen hours at a time for several days until he died of thirst.
Despite all the problems, many Jackson residents are upset about the closure. The Michigan Corrections Department is the second largest employer in the area. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in Jackson was at 7.3% as of December 2006. This statistic follows the closure of TRW Automotive, which laid off 400 employees in July 2006. This year, two other Jackson area employers have announced closures that will result in job loss for at least 350 more people.
Comments
Jack....UP
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/06/2009
Obama wants to close Gitmo and set the terrorists free...Bart Stupak wants to bring terorists to Schoolcraft County.. and Jenny wants to close prisons and flood the streets with criminals....Folks..is it not time to get rid of Democrats. Send Jenny back to Canada and Barack back to Kenya (where he was born!))
Jim Atkinson
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/01/2007
It,s been 5 years Michigan are you blown away yet? I am!
This is still in the news alot, even in the past few weeks.
Thanks! The comments and the names both made me laugh.
jjkabolla
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/12/2007
this is wiggity wiggity wack!
LLmmib+
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/12/2007
This stuff is wacked up. They should not release them!
Good reporting. Thanks for this story.
Wow. I guess I did get hit. Thanks for the comments! :)
This is a very informative article and a very interesting topic. It is too bad the derater got to it because it belongs on the front page. I rated it up again but it doesn't go up very much after its been so badly downrated.
Very clear and concise reporting. Good job!
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