Michigan lawmakers shouldn’t be soft on crime. They should be smart on crime. Criminal justice policy should be judged on three core criteria. Does it improve public safety? Does it reduce costs for taxpayers? Does it increase opportunities for former offenders to become productive, self-sufficient members of society?
Lawmakers must ensure proper funding for the courts, prisons and police, as well as the right training and standards for those who protect the public. At the same time, lawmakers should be fiscally responsible, which means lowering the costs of law enforcement and prisons.
The most important contributor to long-term cost savings is successfully reintegrating prisoners into the workforce, a critical component of reducing crime. Lawmakers should give priority to policies that promote meaningful employment for ex-offenders.
Michigan should join other states in eliminating civil asset forfeiture, so that governments may retain assets they have seized from individuals only after securing a judgment in the criminal court system. Under current law, police can seize property suspected of being connected to criminal activity. The government can maintain ownership of it even if the owner is never convicted of a crime.
While recent reforms have curbed some abuses, existing protections remain insufficient. Civil forfeiture entices law enforcement agencies to supplement their budgets through seizures, and it has harmed individuals who were never found guilty of wrongdoing.
The Mackinac Center strongly supports expanding education and workforce training programs within Michigan’s prison system. Our research finds that incarcerated individuals who participate in educational and job-training programs are much less likely to reoffend, are more likely to find employment after release, and earn higher wages than those who do not. Workforce training programs offer the highest return on investment for state spending, while college-level education provides the highest returns for offenders.
Michigan should expand access to education and training opportunities in prisons. It also should better match adult basic education and GED programs with postsecondary options.
Inmates should be able to reduce their time in prison by participating in and completing programs shown to reduce recidivism.
These proposals reflect the Mackinac Center’s vision for a criminal justice system that prioritizes safety, accountability, and rehabilitation while more effectively using tax dollars.
