The Detroit Free Press reported on June 26th that Michigan received a D- grade for its response to COVID-19 in jails and prisons in a report published by the Prison Policy Initiative, a criminal justice think tank, and the ACLU. The report concluded that Michigan, "largely failed" to protect staff and prisoners during the COVID-19 [...]
A June 30th article posted on bridgemi.com notes that a ballot initiative aimed at Michigan prison reform faces hurdles from both Governor Whitmer and Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel. The article notes: As Michigan prisons recorded nearly 4,000 inmates with COVID-19, time is running out for a ballot drive that seeks to allow early release [...]
Michiganradio.org reported on June 22nd that Michigan's 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing a case filed by Oakland County jail inmates who allege they are denied basic sanitation items like soap and disinfectant to clean surfaces and shared items during the coronavirus pandemic. The inmates also allege that the county jails use prison transfers [...]
In an article published June 18th, Michiganradio.org reports that advocates are pointing to the COVID-19 death rate among Michigan’s prisons as a sign that Michigan is not working fast enough to reduce the prison population. The article quotes Jacq Williams of Michigan United: "We’re begging for decarceration so people can spread out."
The New York Times published an article on June 16th covering the rise in coronavirus cases in prisons even while the rate of infection in the US population has generally flattened. The article notes: The number of prison inmates known to be infected has doubled during the past month to more than 68,000. Prison deaths tied to the coronavirus have also risen, by 73 percent since mid-May.
The Detroit Free Press reported on June 9 that Michigan's prison population dropped 5.2% over three months during the pandemic. Department officials say this is probably the fastest drop in state history. The prison population was just under 36,000, Michigan Department of Corrections legislative liaison Kyle Kaminski told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections. That [...]
The Detroit Free Press shared an opinion article by Craig DeRoche, former House Speaker in Michigan's legislature. In the article, DeRoche highlights how Michigan trails only behind Ohio in COVID-19 cases among incarcerated people. This is a major challenge for leaders and communities. From the article, DeRoche states: Taking action to responsibly expedite the release [...]
The Appeal in collaboration with Dissent Magazine, produced an investigative article published on May 18th, 2020 that explores how prisoners in New York's only high-security prison for women are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The article highlights the fears, uncertainty, and the various problems with dealing with a pandemic in a prison setting. The article [...]
A Detroit Free Press article published on June 5th highlights a published study and report from the Vera Institute of Justice that reviews Wayne County's jails. The study looked at those who were in prison and why they were in prison. The report made recommendations on how to reduce the jail population after the pandemic. [...]
The Detroit News reports on efforts by Wayne County to incorporate recent jail reforms made due to COVID-19 into regular practice in an article posted June 2nd. The population of the Wayne County Jail has fallen by 40%. There are now more people on tether supervision than behind bars. Wayne County worked with the Vera [...]
