Medical Parole Considered For Frail Prisoners

Lawmakers in a Michigan House committee approved bills this week aimed at better managing the state’s aging prison population.

The measures would allow a prisoner who is old and needs regular medical attention to be paroled to a medical facility to finish out their sentence.

State Representative Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, is running point on the legislation and says a medical facility would provide better protection for a frail prisoner, better medical care and might allow the state to snag some Medicaid dollars to cover the costs of housing a prisoner outside of a prison.

To qualify, a prisoner could not be a threat to society.

It’s estimated about 120 prisoners would qualify for medically frail parole out of the gate.

The legislation now awaits a vote in the full Michigan House.