(AP) -- Michigan has put 62 sex offenders back behind bars in the past week who were mistakenly released after being classified in a treatment category that doesn't exist.
Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said Wednesday the parolees were picked up immediately after officials discovered the mistake.
Republican state Rep. Rick Jones of Grand Ledge sent out a news release Wednesday making the matter public.
Sex offenders recently began taking a new test to identify their risk of reoffending and level of treatment needed.
Sixty-two inmates were mistakenly released without a determination of whether they should get treatment at home or stay in prison. Some have since been released again after the determination was made.
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The following is a message from State Rep. Paul Scott :
State Rep. Paul Scott today is calling for an immediate suspension of the state's early release of Michigan prisoners after learning that more than 45 convicted sex offenders were accidentally freed by the state Department of Corrections.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has touted the early release of prisoners as one way to cut state costs. She may release up to 5,000 prisoners by October.
"The release of sex offenders into Michigan neighborhoods represents an appalling security breach and a clear and present danger to Michigan citizens," said Scott, R-Grand Blanc. "While I am familiar with the governor's plan to release convicted felons early, I'm shocked that greater precautions were not taken to keep sex offenders behind bars."
Scott said the early release program must be halted until the administration is able to understand the scope of the program and what went wrong.
"I strongly urge the governor and corrections officials to make a wholesale review of their practices, especially since they plan to release more prisoners in the coming months," Scott said. "The people of Michigan deserve an immediate review into what went wrong, and assurances from the governor that no more sex offenders will be released into our communities."
Scott is especially concerned about DOC practices after a convicted murderer was accidentally dropped off at his grandmother's home in Genesee County by state prison officials instead of being transported to a psychiatric hospital. He was picked up four days later after DOC officials learned of the mistake.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
