Supervisor addresses MPRI distortions
Dear Editor,
This letter is to address recent concerns of local residents that live in the community of Lake and specifically in Garfield Township as it relates to the “parolee” home located in Lake. I am the supervisor of the Clare County Michigan Department of Corrections Parole and 55th Circuit Court Probation office, and the Isabella County 21st Circuit Probation office. In the last several weeks, much has been written and discussed about this residence; I wanted to take the opportunity to provide accurate and complete information.
Every year, thousands of Michigan prisoners are paroled to their communities after completing their sentences. Returning prisoners face obstacles to success even under the best of circumstances, and, as every worker knows, these are not the best circumstances. That makes it all the more important that Michigan has smart, effective programs that help ex-offenders succeed- and in the process enhance public safety. And that’s what the Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative (MPRI) does.
Unfortunately, critics have distorted the MPRI for any number of reasons. Therefore, let me explain what the MPRI is and what it is not.
The MPRI is a collaborative effort designed to give parolees the tools they need to live productive, law-abiding lives. It starts when prisoners begin their sentences, with an assessment of their risk factors, weaknesses, and needs. Transition Accountability Plans are developed to provide relevant programming. Prisoners’ adherence to those plans play a big part in the Parole and Commutation Board decisions about whether they will be released. As prisoners near their potential parole dates, new plans are developed to prepare them to return to the community.
It is self-evident that parolees’ prospects for success are enhanced-and we all are safer in our homes and communities-if they can find jobs or can get training to develop skills, if they have stable housing, if those with substance abuse problems have access to treatment programs, and if they get help with transportation issues.
In Clare County, Michigan Works is the fiduciary for MPRI funds. This agency helps returning offenders find work, get needed education or training, and assists in finding landlords willing to house MDOC parolees so as to provide safe, stable places to live. Parole officers make sure returning offenders have bus tokens to get to jobs, treatment programs, or other appointments.
The “parolee home” in Clare County is not owned by the MDOC; rather, it is owned by Horizons Property Management. Like any other private entity/landlord, Horizon’s Property Management is free to rent to whomever it wishes. In this particular case, the person Horizon’s chose to rent to happens to be an MDOC parolee; it could have just as well been a person not under MDOC supervision. Since the tenant is a parolee covered under the MPRI umbrella, the monthly rent is subsidized through MPRI funds.
The system isn’t perfect, and there is no doubt that some offenders will misbehave. But it is far superior to what was in place before.
Let’s also be clear about what MPRI is not. IT is not and early release program.
All parolees in the MPRI program have served their minimum sentences. And they have been judged to be appropriate candidates for parole by the Michigan Parole and Commutation Board. The reality is that more than 90 percent of Michigan prisoners will return to their communities-with or with out MPRI programming.
There is no doubt that communities are safer if we give returning prisoners a better chance to succeed.
Respectfully,
Duane J. Brown, Supervisor
Clare/Isabella Counties
