Michigan Corrections Organization Statement on Corrections Budget Conference Report

Below is a media statement MCO released yesterday afternoon on the 2017-2018 budget compromise reached by a joint House and Senate committee.

The proposed budget includes funding for new recruits, but requires $10 million in cuts to be spread out among all facilities, except WHV. The Senate originally wanted to cut $41.6 million. Read a full article on the budget, including comments from MCO, at USNews.com.

 

STATEMENT:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Michigan Corrections Organization

June 7, 2017

Contact: Anita Lloyd, 517-485- 3310 ext. 121anita@mco-seiu.org

Michigan Corrections Organization Statement on Corrections Budget Conference Report

LANSING — The Michigan Corrections Organization (MCO) released the following statement regarding the Department of Corrections Conference Report that cuts critical funding from the Corrections budget. The statement should be attributed to Andy Potter, executive vice president, Michigan Corrections Organization.

“Our members are very invested and concerned about the future of the MDOC and decisions being made on their behalf. Throughout this process, officers made calls to legislators to ensure newly hired officers were adequately trained, and we are pleased the budget includes funds for training new staff so the professionalism of our industry is protected. However, we agree with the department that these cuts could lead to a less safe environment for everyone in the prison system, and believe more recognition and investment should be placed on innovative programs correctional officers implement on a daily basis.

The members of the Michigan Corrections Organization do Michigan’s toughest job and expect their voice to be heard in Lansing when resources to do our work are debated. Moving forward, our organization and members will continue the conversation across the board about how we safely and adequately fund the Department of Corrections.”

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Michigan Corrections Organization/SEIU represents more than 6,500 corrections and forensic officers working at state prisons and at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry.