Prosecutors worry about cutbacks

KALAMAZOO (AP) -- Some of Michigan's county prosecutors are worried the state's budget woes could lead to more crime by spurring earlier releases of prison inmates. Although they can't draw a direct connection between violent crimes and prison parolees released shortly after serving their minimum sentences, some prosecutors said more prisoners are being released sooner than they used to be because of the budget troubles. Van Buren County Prosecutor Juris Kaps told the Kalamazoo Gazette she's "definitely" noticed more convicts being released who two years ago would have still been behind bars. "We're seeing them do their minimums. Unless it's a life offense, they're going to be out anyway. But we are seeing them come out earlier than they would have a couple of years ago," Kaps said. Historically, 40 to 50 percent of all people who serve time in Michigan's prisons are eventually arrested for another crime after they are paroled. Recent examples of paroled prisoners allegedly committing crimes include two men charged with separate murders in Kalamazoo County in October who were prison parolees. And earlier this month, a South Haven man was arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a pizza parlor. He told police he did it because he just was released from prison and had no money. Truth-in-sentencing legislation took full effect in Michigan in December 2000, requiring Michigan Department of Corrections inmates to serve at least the minimum sentence ordered by judges. Maximum sentencing lengths are set by state law. Prison terms for inmates sentenced before the new rules went into effect are subject to a different computation that includes good time and disciplinary credits. But prosecutors around the state wonder whether truth-in-sentencing rules will continue as the state seeks ways to save money. "If they start messing with truth-in-sentencing, we're in trouble," Kaps said of inmates leaving prison. Prisoners sentenced since truth-in-sentencing laws went into effect are serving at least the minimum time ordered by a judge before being considered for parole. While on parole, they are still be supervised by state corrections agents. But that might not be enough, said Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Fink. "Take a difficult economy, compounded with their record and their risk (of reoffending) is even greater now than in the past," Fink said. Parole approval rates have increased in all four offense groups -- with some ups and downs -- since the truth-in-sentencing law took effect. Since 2001, the percentage of approved paroles for sex offenders has increased from 14.6 percent to 21 percent in 2008. Likewise, the figure has shifted from 39.9 percent to 43.1 percent for "other violent" offenders; from 61.8 percent to 70.8 percent for "other nonviolent" offenders and from 72.4 percent to 80.6 percent for drug offenders. Published: Tue, Jan 5, 2010

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