Prison Officials Cut Drug Tests for Michigan Parolees

DETROIT — Parole agents are concerned that reduced drug testing will result in increased recidivism among parolees, following the Department of Corrections decision to reduce spending on drug tests by nearly 60 percent in the last five years.

In an effort to reduce spending, the department has trimmed down its anti-drug budget from $4.9 million in 2001 to $1.9 million this year. The agency expects to conduct 338,000 drug tests this year, down from 443,000 in 2005.

The department also abolished mandatory drug testing for medium-risk parolees in March and replaced the program with discretionary testing. Only maximum-risk parolees are tested on a regular basis, according to reports.

Many parole agents and academics claim that drug testing is a critical tool in preventing recidivism. They support frequent testing since drugs such as cocaine, heroin and OxyContin disappear from the body after a few days.

In a federal study conducted by the National Institute of Justice in 2000, researchers found that 70 percent of arrestees in Detroit tested positive for drugs. Of the 35 major cities surveyed, Detroit’s drug rates were found to be higher than the national average.

According to state records, roughly half of Michigan’s parolees return to prison within two years of being released, usually for new crimes. This figure corresponds to the U.S. average for recidivism.