A letter to the editor
Today I sent this letter via email to the Muskegon Chronicle:
I want to begin this letter by making one thing very clear. I firmly believe that we have prisons for good reason. There are many, many dangerous people who cannot fit in society and must be incarcerated.
Now I’m going to respond to the Muskegon Chronicle story of January 23, carrying the headline: WEST MICHIGAN PROSECUTORS OPPOSE EARLY RELEASE OF INMATES.
Let’s begin with the inaccuracy of the headline. Governor Granholm and legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle did NOT propose early release of inmates as a method of reducing prison costs. They proposed the release of inmates who have served MORE THAN their minimum sentence, unless the Parole Board determined that the prisoners still posed a high risk. (12,000 Michigan prisoners are still behind bars past their early release date. Certainly all of them don’t pose a “high risk.”)
Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague responds to the news: “…Now they want to make Michigan the most dangerous state in the country.” Does he really believe that the release of model prisoners who have served more than their minimum sentences will make the Great Lakes State the most dangerous in the country?
Said the Prosecutor: “Let’s get rid of the tennis courts and the television sets, and start making prison time hard time…”
There are three prisons right here in Muskegon, where inmates are doing hard time. I can tell you of a man in MCF who can’t get his blood pressure and diabetes medicine, even after being evaluated at the U of M Hospital! There’s a prisoner at Brooks whose doctor took away his cane, even though his leg was shattered in a traffic accident and he needs it to walk! I have friends in MTF whose facility was so crowded last year they had to wait 30 minutes just to go to the toilet!
I recently spoke with the mother of a juvenile, serving time in another Michigan prison, whose son had to walk with stocking feet in raw sewage for a weekend because toilets had overflowed. I think this exceeds “hard time.” I think it’s cruel and unusual punishment!
A national policy center states that Michigan could save $262 million in prison costs by 2013 by bringing parole policies in line with other states. That’s not unreasonable.
Our governor (a former prosecutor), and lawmakers from both parties agree. Many prisoners are poised to become active and productive citizens. We could create a “win-win” situation by giving them that opportunity and reducing prison costs.
Doug Tjapkes, President
HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS
20 W. Muskegon Ave.
Muskegon
I want to begin this letter by making one thing very clear. I firmly believe that we have prisons for good reason. There are many, many dangerous people who cannot fit in society and must be incarcerated.
Now I’m going to respond to the Muskegon Chronicle story of January 23, carrying the headline: WEST MICHIGAN PROSECUTORS OPPOSE EARLY RELEASE OF INMATES.
Let’s begin with the inaccuracy of the headline. Governor Granholm and legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle did NOT propose early release of inmates as a method of reducing prison costs. They proposed the release of inmates who have served MORE THAN their minimum sentence, unless the Parole Board determined that the prisoners still posed a high risk. (12,000 Michigan prisoners are still behind bars past their early release date. Certainly all of them don’t pose a “high risk.”)
Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague responds to the news: “…Now they want to make Michigan the most dangerous state in the country.” Does he really believe that the release of model prisoners who have served more than their minimum sentences will make the Great Lakes State the most dangerous in the country?
Said the Prosecutor: “Let’s get rid of the tennis courts and the television sets, and start making prison time hard time…”
There are three prisons right here in Muskegon, where inmates are doing hard time. I can tell you of a man in MCF who can’t get his blood pressure and diabetes medicine, even after being evaluated at the U of M Hospital! There’s a prisoner at Brooks whose doctor took away his cane, even though his leg was shattered in a traffic accident and he needs it to walk! I have friends in MTF whose facility was so crowded last year they had to wait 30 minutes just to go to the toilet!
I recently spoke with the mother of a juvenile, serving time in another Michigan prison, whose son had to walk with stocking feet in raw sewage for a weekend because toilets had overflowed. I think this exceeds “hard time.” I think it’s cruel and unusual punishment!
A national policy center states that Michigan could save $262 million in prison costs by 2013 by bringing parole policies in line with other states. That’s not unreasonable.
Our governor (a former prosecutor), and lawmakers from both parties agree. Many prisoners are poised to become active and productive citizens. We could create a “win-win” situation by giving them that opportunity and reducing prison costs.
Doug Tjapkes, President
HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS
20 W. Muskegon Ave.
Muskegon
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