Michigan has lower rates of felons that go to prison than other Great Lakes states, prosecutors say

KALAMAZOO — There is a perception that Michigan prisons are full of low-level criminals whose release would reduce both overcrowding and state budget constraints, but the reality is, “it takes a lot to get sent to prison,” a local prosecutor said.

Nationally, 40 percent of felony convictions result in a prison term, said Jeff Fink, Kalamazoo County’s prosecuting attorney, citing research released last year by the Council of State Governments Justice Center. In Michigan the rate was 23 percent.  Read More...