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Michigan must invest more in Department of Corrections reentry programs to help returning individuals as well as reduce recidivism and ultimately the overall prison population. Over the past 30 years, Michigan’s prison population has expanded dramatically, and the state is now spending more than $2 billion annually to lock up and monitor its prison and probation populations. While steps have been taken to safely reduce the prison population and cut state spending, much more can be done to limit the number of people incarcerated and ensure successful reentry once their time is served. Reprioritizing spending will require careful policy deliberation that accounts for economic and safety concerns. However, by investing more in reentry efforts, the end result will be more families remaining together and more funds available for other budget priorities, including education, mental health and infrastructure.
The High Cost of Incarceration: More Than Just Money
In 2015, Michigan spent more than $2 billion on corrections and public safety—representing a 735% increase in spending since 1983. Michigan currently spends more General Fund dollars on corrections than it does on higher education.
While the fiscal cost of the high level of incarceration is significant, the human costs are far greater. Incarceration and criminal records result in limited access to employment, credit and housing. Moreover, when people go to prison, they leave behind families and communities. Around the country, almost half of children have a parent with a criminal record. Children with incarcerated parents are more likely to have poor health and educational outcomes.
The impact of mass incarceration on the African-American community has been devastating, with African-Americans constituting half of Michigan’s prison population, while only making up about 15% of the state’s population. The disproportionate impact on this community is caused in part by discriminatory police and sentencing practices both historically and at present. Carefully considered reforms including diversity training and reducing jail detention through bail and fines and fees reform are crucial to reducing this disparity. These financial traps are keeping too many people incarcerated. Once people are in prison, resources must be focused on preparing for successful reentry into the community.
The Importance of Reentry Programs
Reentry programs are crucial to reducing the prison population. Approximately 95% of Michigan’s prison population will return to the community after serving a sentence. Once prisoners have served their sentences, it is imperative that they be given the tools needed to succeed back at home and in their communities. In 2014, probation and parole violators made up 44% of prison entries. Measures to reduce recommitment due to parole violations along with bolstering and enhancing reentry programming are two concrete ways to improve reentry outcomes. In addition to funding reentry efforts in the Corrections budget, the state can also help returning residents and their families by removing restrictions on social safety net programs related to an individual’s criminal record, such as limitations on food and cash assistance for drug offenders.
The 2017 State Budget
Prisoner Reentry Services: The governor proposed $6 million more for prisoner reentry services, with support from the House Appropriations Committee. The funds support programs both inside and outside prison facilities. These include vocational training for prisoners and efforts to connect them directly with potential employers, as well as Transi tion Action Planning programs that present concrete steps once people are released from prison into the community. The increase in prisoner reentry funding from $39 million for budget year 2016 to $45 million next year is intended primarily to cover inflationary costs from rebidding contracts related to reentry services, which have been in place for at least the last five years. Without greater state investments in reentry than currently pro posed, it will be difficult to reduce recidivism substantially.
Goodwill “Flip the Script” Program: Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit developed the “Flip the Script” program to provide education, job training and mentoring to 16-29-year-olds in an effort to keep them out of prison. The governor proposed eliminating the program, but the House Appropriations Subcommittee maintains it at $1.5 million, a $500,000 reduction over current year spending. While controlling costs is important, underfunding reentry programs undercuts justice reinvestment efforts that place emphasis on ensuring the safety of communities once prisoners are released.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
[…] has the opportunity to make changes through sentencing reforms to control the prison population, increased funding for prisoner education and training, support for “ban the box,” removing our 17-year-old children from the adult prison system, […]