Sheer Brilliance

Putting criminals back out on the streets? Brilliant! Hey, if you can't figure out a way to cut your prison expenses, just put the prisoners out on the street. Such stunning leadership!

Cox slams Granholm prison plan
The Detroit News

State Attorney General Mike Cox and a coalition of law enforcement and county government officials on Monday denounced Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposal to cut state prison costs by reducing some criminal penalties and sending more prisoners to county jails.

Saying the plan was dangerous and wrong-headed, Cox said it was based on mistaken and misleading information. People in prison, even those serving time for relatively minor or nonviolent convictions, often have violent backgrounds, he said. And virtually all criminals have victims.

The proposals, part of the governor's budget-balancing plan, would reduce the number of inmates by about 3,300 over the next three years, according to prison officials. Cox and his colleagues said that is too many.

"Public safety is the first responsibility of government," Cox said. "It shouldn't be the first thing cut."