LANSING – Gov. Jennifer Granholm offered empty beds in Michigan prisons to house inmates from California today as the Golden State seeks solutions to prison overcrowding and a massive budget deficit.



Granholm sent a letter to California Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger after speaking to him personally, in which she called the offer an “opportunity [[that) has great potential and could be mutually beneficial.” Granholm said several empty facilities and soon-to-be-vacated prisons in Standish and Muskegon could be available.


Califorrnia faces the prospect of being forced to release tens of thousands of inmates to ease overcrowding, even as it addresses a $24.3 billion deficit.


Granholm’s letter said terms of a prison space sharing plan could be worked out in negotiations.
Interesting idea, however if California is potentially so bad off that it will be out of cash by the end of July, I doubt they will be able to afford transporting prisoners to Michigan, and paying the staff to watch them.



http://freep.com/article/20090629/NE...Calif.+inmates