LANSING – In response to Gov. Rick Snyder’s Special Message to the Legislature on Public Safety, which proposes needed structural reforms in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems, Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, released the following statement:
“Public safety is key to economic growth and job creation.  The most basic needs of job providers, tourists and workers are safe communities to do business, visit, work and raise a family.
“Businesses will not invest in communities if they cannot expect a secure environment; and families will not settle in a place where their children are not safe to learn and play.
“We have achieved much in the past year to energize our economy, but as long as the country sees Michigan as having four of the nation’s top 10 most violent cities, we will never be able to reach our full economic potential.
“As Senate Appropriations subcommittee chair for corrections, I am especially thankful that the governor is addressing the problems of drugs and prevalence of crime.
“I have long supported drug treatment courts as an effective way to end the process of drug and alcohol offenders entering the prison system over and over again. I thank the governor for working to end this cycle.
“These steps will help protect southwest Michigan families from crime and save taxpayer dollars. I look forward to continuing to work with the governor and the Legislature on this comprehensive approach to reducing crime, insuring the safety of our communities and helping to bring new investment and jobs to our state.”