Stupak Urges State Officials to Re-Evaluate Prison Closures, Explore Possible Federal Assistance
U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), in a June 10 letter to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, urged state officials to explore all options available to the state to prevent the closure of Northern Michigan's prisons and prison camps slated for closure as part of an effort to address Michigan's record budget shortfall. Stupak noted that six of the eight Michigan Department of Corrections facilities slated for closure are located in Northern Michigan's First Congressional District and that their closure will have devastating effects on the communities in which they are located.
"I respect the difficult decisions the Governor and members of the state legislature must make in addressing the budget crisis," Stupak said. "But as our nation and state work toward economic recovery, now is not the time to abandon the communities and workers that have supported our state's prison system for decades."
Two prisons in Northern Michigan - Hiawatha Correctional Facility in Chippewa County and Standish Maximum Correctional Facility in Arenac County - as well as four Northern Michigan prison camps - Camp Cusino in Alger County, Camp Kitwen in Baraga County, Camp Lehman in Crawford County and Camp Ottawa in Iron County - are scheduled to be closed. Muskegon Correction Facility and Camp White Lake are the two other correctional facilities to be closed in the state. Combined, the closure of the eight prisons and prison camps will result in the layoff of an estimated 1,000 employees.
"The six Northern Michigan prisons and prison camps targeted for closure are the largest or among the largest employers in their local communities," Stupak said. "However, I remain concerned that the proposed closures will do more harm than good to both our economy and our state's criminal justice system.
Stupak noted the important role the facilities - and the prison camps in particular - play in Michigan's criminal justice system. As additional inmates are paroled or released, prison camps serve as an important transition point for offenders near the end of their sentence who are ready to return to society. Stupak urged state officials to engage him and Michigan's entire congressional delegation in exploring opportunities for funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill, or other federal funds to help avert prison closures and layoffs.
"Unprecedented federal funds have been made available to states," Stupak said. "Three states have already tapped their federal stimulus allocations to sustain their prison systems, and I urge Michigan officials to explore all opportunities to do the same. I stand ready to assist in any way I can to help identify and secure federal assistance should the state seek it."