When a criminal goes to jail in Michigan, a law is in place that states that they must serve a minimum sentence. This week the Corrections Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will discuss whether to include a change in sentencing guidelines in the DOC's budget. Department of Corrections Spokesperson John Cordell says, "There are several bills on the table right now that deal with changing the truth in sentencing and good time...what the sentence structure would be like for Michigan prisoners."

If the Truth in Sentencing law is repealed, criminals could be let out for good behavior. The repeal is supported by the governor and the Department of Corrections says it will save millions. Cordell says, "The good time bills over the next year, year and 1/2 could save about 130 million dollars or so in the corrections budget."

Letting prisoners out early doesn't sit well with members of local law enforcement like Eaton County Sheriff Mike Raines. He hopes lawmakers say "no" to the idea. He's concerned inmates like Donald Gene Miller would be back on the street if it's repealed. Raines says, "There were multiple people that he allegedly killed, however if he would have been allowed to have his good time, he would have been out in 18 years. Luckily he was charged with a crime while he was in prison which kept him there."

Local law enforcement officials say those who are not locked in their cells for their full sentence have a high chance of re-offending. Raines says, "There are lots of cases that have been documented where people have been released, not released early, but at their earliest possible release time and have ended up right back in prison or in jail."

Republican State Senator Alan Cropsey of Clinton County and Ionia County chairs the senate subcommittee that's discussing the DOC budget. He says the Senate is unlikely to change sentencing guidelines as it debates the DOC's budget. Cropsey says he hopes to pass a budget through to the Senate this week that is based upon available revenues, not changes in sentencing guidelines. The discussion for that budget starts in the Corrections Subcommittee at 2:00 pm Tuesday.