Detroit News' Nolan Finley published an opinion article exploring how reducing Michigan's prison population can help reduce state expenses. Finley cites evidence that older inmates who have served 10 years or more are less likely to commit crimes of any type if released. The article suggests that state budget cuts could start with Michigan's prisons [...]
The Detroit Free Press reports that many prisoners at Parnall Correctional Facility near Jackson have tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies. This may mean that nearly all of the prisoners have been exposed to COVID-19. The Michigan Department of Corrections offered antibody blood tests to all prisoners at Parnall starting in the middle of May. MDOC [...]
MLive reported on May 22, 2020 that the State of Michigan has tested all prisoners in state correction facilities in less than 15 days for COVID-19. This testing covered 38,227 people in 29 facilities. This mass testing, aided by the Michigan National Guard, has allowed Michigan to get a better handle on COVID-19 inside its [...]
The Prison Policy Initiative published a brief on May 21, 2020 that explores how parole "program requirements", often delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, keep prisoners locked up who could safely be released. As the briefing notes: These are the people who have already been granted parole by the state parole boards, but have not yet [...]
The Annie E. Casey Foundation surveyed prison populations and found that the youth detention population fell 24% in one month. They note: The percentage reduction in youth detention across these jurisdictions in one month was as large as the national decline over a recent seven-year period (from 2010 to 2017). The findings highlight the rapid [...]
The Detroit Free Press published an opinion article highlighting the shifts in how jails are used (or misused) and how the Michigan Jails Task Force findings provide a roadmap on how to improve Michigan's correction system. The article also points out how the Michigan Jails Task Force findings are extremely relevant in helping to protect [...]
Spectrum News posted an article on May 15th highlighting efforts in Texas to release prisoners approved for parole to help reduce prison populations while the state faces the COVID-19 pandemic. The article shares stories of families as they work to get their loved ones released. One prisoner notes, "People do change, so they deserve the [...]
The Oakland Press reported on May 1st that at a federal court hearing, a judge will consider a request to make further changes at the Oakland County Jail due to COVID-19 as well as possible dismissing a class action lawsuit against the county officials. The original lawsuit alleged unsanitary conditions at the county jail are [...]
mLive reported on April 16th, 2020 that a small group of protesters, organized by prison-reform group Nation Outside, drove outside the Capitol Building in Lansing to urge Governor Whitmer to implement a series of measures to protect staff and prisoners facing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in state prisons. mLive noted: Demonstrators called on the [...]
On April 14th, The Detroit News reported that "Activists have organized #LetMiPeopleGo, a Twitter campaign through 3 p.m., to urge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and corrections officials to speed release of prison inmates during the coronavirus outbreak." Activists are concerned that under the current pandemic, a prison sentence can become a death sentence. They encourage officials [...]
