|
Program |
Gross Appropriation |
Appropriation Breakdown |
|
|
|
|
|
Substance Abuse Treatment |
$1,475,000[56] |
All from GF/GP |
Program Description:
This program funds substance abuse rehabilitation programs
to prisoners in the Michigan penal system.
Recommended Action:
Historically, the most effective substance abuse programs
have been privately sponsored, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Teen Challenge.
And according to Department director Kenneth L. McGinnis, programs of this type
are being utilized by the MDOC.
While other MDOC staff provide substance abuse education
programs aimed at eradicating misuse and motivating the abuser for treatment,
private licensed contract agencies are employed to treat the substance dependent
prisoners. Alcoholics Anonymous and other volunteer self help organizations are
recruited to complement the education and treatment programs.
In addition to private treatment agencies, the self help
program is the most available and utilized intervention. Each month
approximately 2,000 volunteers assist about 6.000 prisoners. In addition, health
and housing staff conduce self help or AA programs for prisoners. MDOC staff
also provide a 12 session weekly substance abuse education program to
approximately 700 prisoners each month.[57]
The Department of Corrections should be commended for
encouraging a civil society approach to the problem of inmate substance abuse.
It should not stop, however, at simply contracting out for the provision of
services. The Department should fully replace state funded programs with private
volunteer organizations. Where such private assistance is lacking, the
Department should redouble its efforts to inform community organizations of the
needs, and not resort to state subsidies.
|
Program |
Gross Appropriation |
Appropriation Breakdown |
|
|
|
|
|
Prisoner Rehabilitation and |
$1,367,100[58] |
All from GF/GP |
|
Education Programs |
|
|
Program Description:
This program funds the costs incurred for the provision of
associate's and bachelor's degree programs for prisoners in the Michigan penal
system. Although these programs were offered initially only at male facilities,
a legal challenge resulted in their being required at all facilities, either as
part of a federal consent decree or by court order. The Department of
Corrections has petitioned the federal court to allow the department to
discontinue college programming at four male facilities and replace the
programming with basic education programs, utilizing the same funding.
Recommended Action:
While not possible under current legal rulings, the state
should seek aggressively to be released from the court mandates and eliminate
funding for college level programs for prisoners. The provision of college
education to prisoners is simply not a responsibility of the MDOC.
