The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world! This is largely due to the fact that we lock people up for crimes--such as using drugs and writing bad checks--that rarely lead to prison terms in other countries. Our prison sentences are also much longer than in other nations. So when it comes to making difficult decisions over cuts to state budgets, corrections is the most logical place to start.

On 2/19/11, the Detroit Free Press published an editorial suggesting Michigan Governor Rick Snyder implement changes to the Department of Corrections that would save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per year and lower our incarceration rate (one of the highest in the country) to match those of nearby states. These changes include:

*Restoring "good time" credits

*Divert more non-violent offenders into lower-cost programs such as drug courts, electronic tethers, and community service

*Repeal juvenile life without parole sentences

*Release some of the 8,000 inmates who have served their minimum sentence

Please call on Governor Snyder and the Michigan state legislators to save millions in taxpayer dollars by enacting these common sense changes!