A letter from the Federal Government/Bureau of Prisons (BOP) arrived on October 1, telling me that the government was shutting down except for essential services. Fortunately, I was also informed that the BOP determined we met this criteria; that we were considered to be an essential service. While the late-night comedians have a field day with these type of things, it did make me think about why KPEP and Community Corrections are essential services, with a big part to play in the criminal justice system.Community Corrections has existed in Michigan formally since the passing of the Community Corrections Act in 1988. Responding to high crime rates in the 1970s and the “War on Drugs,” the prison population in Michigan more than doubled from 14,658 in 1984 to 31,824 in 1989. Twenty new facilities were added at this time.
The goal of the act was simple. The state would provide funding to counties or groups of counties for programs. In exchange, the local communities would reduce their prison commitment rates. From 1989 through 2012, the statewide prison commitment rate fell from 34.7% to 20.7%. With prison incarceration costs at $34,000 per year and residential programs like KPEP at $17,000, keeping people in community corrections is a big savings. These savings are direct and tangible. The figures don’t include the larger impact to society that benefits due to lower recidivism rates; and putting people to work who are then paying taxes, court costs and restitution.
Our relationship with the Bureau of Prisons is somewhat different. Everyone in that system comes to us directly from a federal institution to serve the last part of his/her sentence in KPEP, which is considered a Residential Re-Entry Center. Cost savings are realized in two ways. All of the BOP residents must be employed and pay 25% of their income toward the cost of their stay at KPEP. BOP residents are also eligible for Home Confinement. Once on Home Confinement status the cost is half that of a residential stay.
As our lawmakers continue to struggle statewide and nationally with fiscal concerns, KPEP is an organization that provides an integral part of the solution in the area of corrections. What we do makes so much sense from both a human and cost savings perspective! In a budget battle that clearly defines the services that are considered to be so vitally necessary they will continue operating while the vast majority are shutting down, KPEP is proud to be identified as “essential”.
We strive everyday to be deserving of that designation.