MI- DOC looks at releasing some prisoners

5-5-2009 Michigan:

Local prosecutor says letting sex offenders out is dangerous (This prosecutor has no idea what the actual recidivism rates are for Michigan sex offfenders.)

TUSCOLA COUNTY (WJRT) -- (05/05/09)--Major budget cuts were announced Tuesday in state government.

No prisons are being closed in these latest moves, but the Department of Corrections continues to look at releasing prisoners who have served their minimum time.

One group of prisoners the DOC is looking at is sex offenders.

The Department of Corrections says those convicted of sex crimes are being looked at for release if they have served their minimum prison sentence.

One prosecutor says this is dangerous.

"They are the type of offenders that give us the greatest concern," said Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene.

Reene is seeing plenty of requests for the release of inmates to reduce the prison population.

"They are by the vast majority sex offenders," Reene said.

The Department of Corrections is looking at nearly 12,000 inmates who have served their minimum sentence.

"Sex offenders are a special population within our prison system that has one of the lowest parole rates," said the DOC's John Cordell.

According to Cordell, sex offenders have a first-time parole rate of about 25 percent, where the rest of the prison population is around 70 percent.

"We as an agency need to ensure that they are receiving fair consideration for parole," he said.

Reene says he believes sex offenders need to serve closer to the maximum time.
"It's been proven time and time again that individuals engaged in that behavior certainly aren't going to stop doing so," he said. "They are notorious for recidivism."

The DOC plans on reinvesting money for more parole officers to supervise sex offenders once they are released.

Reene says the cost-cutting move by reducing the prison population could prove more costly.

"Can you put a price tag on a child who is victimized by somebody who is released? I don't think there is a price tag on this," he said.

Reene plans on meeting with the Department of Corrections to voice opposition over the release of some of those inmates.

The DOC says it will listen. ..News Source.. by Terry Camp