Debate on Aging Prisoners Continues

Lawmakers in a Michigan House committee will continue the debate on what to do about Michigan’s aging prison population.

A trio of bills looks to address it by allowing frail prisoners to be placed on medical parole and go to a health care facility.

State Representative Al Pscholka is spearheading the legislation and says doing so would provide the prisoners with better protection, more comprehensive health care and would allow the state to draw federal dollars to cover the prisoners care.

He says medical parole does not equate to early release noting a prisoner will still have to serve out their sentence until at least their earliest possible release date.

Lawmakers first began discussing the legislation in December.