State representatives in the House Criminal Justice Committee want to keep better track of parolees and probationers.

The committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that enters Michigan into a national group of states working together to manage parolees and probationers who wish to cross state lines. The bill now goes before the state House for consideration.

State Rep. Charles LaSata, R-St. Joseph, sponsored the legislation and said it is important the state updates tracking procedures.

“The new compact would require the recording of probationers and parolees traveling to Michigan and others states,” he said.

LaSata said the legislation should be passed in order to enhance security for Michigan residents.

“I became involved in this because I represent a border county near Illinois,” he said. “We have a lot of people from other states traveling through the county, and this would help ensure the safety of our constituency.”

In order for the compact to be successful, 35 states need to sign before July 2002. The legislation has been passed in 24 states and is in the works in about 20 others states, LaSata said.

“I feel very comfortable with the welcome it received in committee,” he said. “Other members see the needs. I’m confident it will be passed and signed into law.”

Matt Davis, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections, said the state has 67,000 parolees and probationers.

Parolees are those recently released from prison, while probationers don’t serve time.

“The current laws are out of date, and we need to make sure that more modern practices and technology are applied,” he said.

If the legislation is approved, Michigan will have a voice in organizing the rules of the compact when states meet.

“It is important for Michigan to have a seat on the rules committee,” Davis said. “We’ll be able to monitor and import our ideas about parolee and probation supervision into whatever is enacted.”

Davis said Michigan is one of a few states in the country that uses a special polygraph program to enhance the supervision of parolees.

State Rep. Vera Rison, D-Mount Morris, said she supported the legislation for the betterment of public safety.

“It is very important to keep records on where people are once they leave here,” she said.

Rison said the legislation was informative, and received overwhelming bipartisan support.

“We need to know where people are,” she said. “If they break the law again, we need to be able to track them down where they are now.”