Interactive Michigan Map

Vera COVID-19 and Criminal Justice: City and State Spotlights

This Wayne County, Michigan, program is helping exonerate people for crimes they didn’t commit – now it’s going statewide

Enacted Orders and Guidance

Executive Order No. 2020-170

New Update from the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman (May 15, 2020)

Executive Order: No. 2020-62: Temporary COVID-19 protocols for entry into Michigan Department of Corrections facilities and transfers to and from Department custody; temporary recommended COVID-19 protocols and enhanced early-release authorization for county jails, local lockups, and juvenile detention centers (April 26, 2020)

Governor’s Executive Order 2020-29 on Jail and Prison Protocols (April 26, 2020)

Governor’s Executive Order 2020-29 on Jail and Prison Protocols (March 29, 2020)

Joint Statement by Chief Justice McCormack and Sheriff Matt Sexton (March 26, 2020)

Proposed Guidance, Statements & Calls to Action

Michigan prison system to resume in-person visits March 26: How they’ll be different

Activists, students criticize the exclusion of Michigan prisoners from Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 spread fast in Michigan prisons. Advocates say they should be prioritized for vaccine

Correctional Facilities Are COVID-19 Hot Spots. Why Don’t They Get Vaccine Priority?

Whitmer signs bills lightening traffic offense penalties, shortening jail, parole protocol

State reviewing possible COVID-19 reinfections after 115 prisoners test positive twice

Citizen’s for Prison Reform

ACLU Urges Governor Gretchen Whitmer To Release Vulnerable People From Prisons To Stop The Spread Of COVID-19 (April 16, 2020)

Letter to Governor on Prisons from Advocacy Organizations Urging Release and Improvement of Conditions (April 6, 2020)

Nation Outside Demands Action on COVID-19 in Prisons (April 2020)

Statement of the Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration (April 1, 2020)

Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service Letter to the Governor (March 31, 2020)

ACLU and Michigan State Appellate Defender Office Letter to Judges Following Executive Order 2020-29 (March 31, 2020)

Safe & Just Michigan Response to Executive Order on Jails and Prisons (March 30, 2020)

Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and American Friends Service Committee Recommended MDOC Executive Response (March 26, 2020)

Michigan State Appellate Defender Office recommended COVID-19 Executive Response (March 19, 2020)

Michigan Liberation Sign-on Letter to Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy (March 2020)

Michigan Liberation Sign-on Letter to Public Officials for Release of Vulnerable Incarcerated People (March 2020)

Lawyers needed! Wayne County Release Coordination (March 2020)

Sign-on! Letter to Governor Whitmer to Release Elderly and Vulnerable People from Prison in Michigan (March 16, 2020) PDF copy

ACLU Letter to Courts on COVID-19 Prevention Management (March 17, 2020)

Fair and Just Prosecution Joint Statement from Elected Prosecutors on COVID-19 (March 17, 2020)

Use Executive Powers to Release Elderly, Aging, and Vulnerable Populations (March 16, 2020)

Urgent Executive and Legislative Action Needed in Response to COVID-19, prepared by Michigan State Appellate Defender Office (March 15, 2020)

Michigan State Appellate Defender Office Letter to District and Circuit Court Judges (March 15, 2020)

Advocates Call for Release of Vulnerable Michiganders to Protect Public Health, Among Other Steps (March 13, 2020)

ACLU, Safe & Just Michigan, and American Friends Service Committee Urge Officials to Develop Proactive COVID-19 Plans for Jails and Prisons (March 13, 2020)

ACLU, Safe & Just Michigan, and American Friends Service Committee Letter to Sheriffs (March 13, 2020)

Remove Youth From Confinement in Michigan, prepared by Michigan Center for Youth Justice (March 2020)

Nation Outside: Demanding Action Now: COVID-19 and Michigan Prisons