The state of Michigan may take the earnings a prisoner's received from writing his highly acclaimed book of short stories.

Inmate Curtis Dawkins' debut book, "The Graybar Hotel," was published in July 2017 through Scribner — a publishing company under Simon & Schuster. Dawkins, who grew up in rural Illinois, received his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in fiction writing at Western Michigan University. In late 2005, the now 49-year-old was sentenced to life in prison without parole after admitting to murdering Thomas Bowman in 2004 while high on crack cocaine.

"The Graybar Hotel" details Dawkins' life behind bars, and has subsequently led him to earn praise from The New York Times, among many others.

Scribner offered Dawkins $150,000 upfront for his book, The Guardian reported. Michigan's Department of Treasury, however, is seeking to collect 90 percent of his assets. This would include "proceeds from publications, future payments [and] royalties" generated from the imprisoned man's book. However, Dawkins intended for the monetary compensation to go towards his three children's college funds.

The state filed a complaint October 2017 that calculated the cost of Dawkins' imprisonment since 2005, which came in at more than $372,000, according to NYT. It also asserted that Dawkins has no right to set aside the compensations he's received from his book for his family.

"It hurts my kids," Dawkins told NYT. "I did wrong, but those kids are completely innocent."

Michigan is among a roster of more than 40 states, including Florida and Arizona, that require inmates to pay for the cost of living in prison. Prisoners in Michigan are obligated to cover room and board alongside medical fees during their time behind bars, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

The state's current laws, therefore, would allow for it to acquire Dawkins assets.

"The attorney general may file a complaint in the circuit court for the county from which a prisoner was sentenced, stating that the person is or has been a prisoner in a state correctional facility, that there is good cause to believe that the prisoner has assets, and asking that the assets be used to reimburse the state for the expenses incurred or to be incurred, or both, by the state for the cost of care," the Brennan Center's website read.

Ken Bowman, the brother of Dawkins' murder victim, said the author-inmate doesn't deserve to reap the monetary benefits from he's expected to receive through his book deal. He instead wishes that Dawkins could be subjected to death penalty consequences, which is a law Michigan doesn't enforce.

"I'm a Marine. I was taught to kill," the brother said to The Detroit News. "I would have killed that son of a b—h and enjoyed every second of it."

A court hearing regarding Dawkins' case is expected to occur in Kalamazoo, Mich., Feb. 26.

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