Michigan spends approximately $2 billion each year to house prisoners, with Department of Corrections spending accounting for 19% of the total state General Fund—more money than higher education spending. As the 2017 state budget negotiations heat up this month, sweeping reform is needed to safely reduce the prison population. The League supports evidence-based alternatives to incarceration along with reentry services that keep individuals from reoffending or violating conditions of probation and parole and successfully reintegrate prisoners and reunite families. The League’s priorities for 2017 include increased funding for mental health services, full funding for Hepatitis C drug treatment for infected prisoners, and investment in effective reentry programs that provide opportunities for education and training and connections to future employers.
Since the release of the governor’s budget proposal in February, the House and Senate have approved their own versions of the 2017 budget for the Department of Corrections (DOC). The second consensus revenue estimating conference will be held on May 17th, where state economists and budget experts will brief legislators on updated state revenue estimates and set final spending targets. It is expected that joint House/Senate conference committees will meet right after the May 17th conference to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions and come to agreement on the final budget bill that will be voted on by both houses and ultimately approved by the governor.
This brief compares the Department of Corrections budget bills that were approved by the House and Senate with the governor’s executive budget recommendations made in February, and includes the League’s recommendations for the final budget.
Prisoner Healthcare
Hepatitis C Drug Treatment: The governor recommended $17.3 million for Hepatitis C treatment for Michigan prisoners—$3.4 million for 2017 on top of the $13.9 million already transferred into the 2016 budget to cover Hepatitis costs this year. In 2013, approximately 4,445 prisoners, or 10% of the prison population, tested positive for Hepatitis C. With approximately 1,000 prisoners released from prison each year, many prisoners with Hepatitis C will return to their communities still suffering from—and potentially spreading—the disease if not treated.
- Senate: The Senate did not increase funding for Hepatitis C treatment.
- House: The House agreed with the governor to provide funding, however at a lower level of $12.3 million.
The League supports the governor’s recommendation to provide adequate and humane care for prisoners, including medical treatment, along with protecting the general public from infection from untreated prisoners who return to their communities.
Mental Health Services: The governor included $2 million for 17 new employees to address waiting lists for mental health services in prisons. Approximately 1 in 5 prisoners currently receive some form of mental health treatment.
- Senate: The Senate provided $1 million for nine new mental health employees and related services.
- House: The House agreed with the governor to provide $2 million for 17 new employees and related services.
The League supports the governor’s funding level, which may bring the state closer to providing needed mental health services to the high proportion of mentally ill inmates. Prisons and jails house more mentally ill people than psychiatric hospitals in Michigan.
Substance Abuse Services for Probation Violators: The governor recommended $750,000 for a new 30-day program to prevent relapse and serve as an alternative to residential treatment for prisoners on probation that violate due to substance use. Approximately 250 probation violators would be treated.
- Senate: The Senate did not include funding for this initiative.
- House: The House agreed with the governor and provided the full recommended amount of $750,000.
The League supports the governor’s recommendation to improve rehabilitation programs for parole violators.
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.
