March 29, 2011 - 8:20pm
Granholm approves 100 commutation requests in past two years
BY BETHANY BIRON
Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been granting clemency — or lowering the degree of punishment — to Michigan inmates at a rate of commutations much higher than those in the past four decades in an effort to cut costs, the Associated Press reported.
During 2008 and 2009, Granholm approved commutations — or changed punishment — for 100 inmates, one-third of which were listed as medical cases and 32 of which were listed as first-degree murder convictions, according to a Jan. 17, 2010 Associated Press article.
It’s widely believed the reason for the increase in clemency grants is due to Michigan’s budget crisis. A report within the state found that Michigan is holding people in prison for too long and in turn spending too much money, according to the article.
Russ Marlan, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, was quoted in the article saying that Michigan’s financial issues are a major factor in Granholm’s methodology in deciding on commutation requests.
"The report and the fiscal crisis facing the state are factors that caused the governor to reconsider the manner in which she considers commutation requests," Marlan told the Associated Press.
In further efforts to decrease the amount of inmates in Michigan jails, the Michigan Parole and Commutation Board released 13,000 prisoners on parole last year, which is the most ever released in the state, the Associated Press reported.
