Michigan Lets Prisoners Go—and Saves a Bundle

In a small, drab office at the Charles Egeler correctional facility in Jackson, Mich., Corey Russell, a 34-year-old stickup man, is taking a test that will determine whether he is ready to be let out of prison. “In the three to six months prior to this incarceration, how often were you bored in your spare time?” asks case manager Jennifer Tellez. “Quite often, actually,” says Russell, who is serving a 14-month sentence for attempting to rob a poker hall. Tellez works her way through the 130-question evaluation form in front of her. “In the last year, were you working any jobs?” Russell shakes his head. She asks whether he agrees with the following statement: “I am really good at sweet-talking people to get what I want.” Russell grins. “Agree!” he says.

As growing prison populations drain state budgets, Michigan is putting great effort into moving inmates out and keeping them out. During his time on the inside, Russell, like Michigan’s 43,120 other state prisoners, will sit for a lengthy evaluation once a year, each time earning a numerical score that identifies his “risk potential.” As inmates’ grades improve, their chances for parole increase. Corrections officials will continue to track their progress on the outside, offering counseling and help finding a job.