Controversy over proposed Michigan sentencing reforms

This local article provides an effective review of the controversies brewing over Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s suggested changes to the state’s sentencing laws.  Here are excerpts:

Public safety is not state government leaders’ priority. That is the reaction Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte had upon learning about Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed reforms to the state’s sentencing laws. “The state is trying to fix its problem by dumping (them) on the county,” Bezotte said. “As far as I’m concerned, the state government is shirking its responsibility. Public safety is not one of their priorities.”

The Granholm administration is pushing to change the state’s sentencing laws so fewer criminals are locked in state prisons and county jails. However, Bezotte said the proposal will only land more people in the county jail, which continually sees overcrowding.

According to the proposed sentencing law reforms report, about 140 felonies — such as fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, felonious driving, negligent homicide and writing bad checks — would become one-year misdemeanors, which mean a potential jail sentence — not prison. The plan also calls for putting lower-level offenders behind bars for less time….

Attorney General Mike Cox as well as other law enforcement officials on Monday blasted the proposal, calling it “seriously flawed.” 

The state report disagrees with Bezotte’s analysis of the likely impact, indicating that statewide county jail intake will be reduced by a net of 11,939 admissions each year….  “We need these sentencing reforms,” Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said. “If we want to see significant costs savings, we need to decrease the prison population.” That’s all well and good, local officials say, but the problems the state hopes to eliminate are simply being passed to the county governments.

This AP article and this addition local piece provides additional information about the attacks on Gov.  Granholm’s proposals.