By Amanda Harrison
State workers are anxiously awaiting a House vote on opening a privately owned correctional facility. Debate over the future of the Baldwin Correctional Facility in Lake county continues Tuesday in Lansing.
Russ Marlan is with the Michigan Department of Corrections. He said state prisons are already closing from lack of inmates. And opening a private facility would lessen the need for state facilities even further.
If we were to house prisoners there at this point it would be us closing a prison that we own and operate and run by state employees and moving those prisoners to a prison that's owned and operated by contractors. So it would really be eliminating state workers, primarily state union worker positions."
Supporters of the bill say opening the private facility would bring economic growth to the area.
State workers are anxiously awaiting a House vote on opening a privately owned correctional facility. Debate over the future of the Baldwin Correctional Facility in Lake county continues Tuesday in Lansing.
Russ Marlan is with the Michigan Department of Corrections. He said state prisons are already closing from lack of inmates. And opening a private facility would lessen the need for state facilities even further.
If we were to house prisoners there at this point it would be us closing a prison that we own and operate and run by state employees and moving those prisoners to a prison that's owned and operated by contractors. So it would really be eliminating state workers, primarily state union worker positions."
Supporters of the bill say opening the private facility would bring economic growth to the area.