ABC News reports that Michigan prison inmates will now receive photocopies of mail. Corrections officials say the new policy is aimed at stopping an uptick in attempts to hide prohibited items and drugs in mail and ensuring the safety of the prison population. Attempts at mailing contraband increased after in-person visiting ended in March [...]
WLUC reported on October 12th that additional correction staff were brought in to assist Marquette Branch Prison (MBP) while it deals with a major COVID outbreak. To assist with the staffing issues, MDOC is bringing in volunteers and members of its Emergency Response Team. Read more: https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2020/10/12/extra-staff-brought-to-marquette-branch-prison-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/
The Intercept reported on September 28th that prisoners at Muskegon Correctional Facility in Michigan described how officials, "frequent, haphazard transfers contributed to the virus’s spread". The article notes how that until July, Muskegon Correctional Facility had zero cases. But then by the end of July, cases had skyrocketed. Prisoners reported that officials failed by: [...]
A Detroit Free Press article posted on September 19th notes that the ACLU of Michigan is calling on a federal prison to provide free cups to incarcerated people during COVID-19. The ACLU of Michigan wants to prevent the spread of the virus from prisoners using the drinking fountains. Under normal circumstances, prisoners at the [...]
WXYZ Detroit reported on September 29th, 2020 that COVID-19 is highlighting disparities in the US criminal justice system. The article uses Quentin Burt's story to show how Federal mandatory minimum sentencing has impacted the US - in the 1970's, the federal prison population was about 300,000. Now, it's nearly two-and-a-half million. COVID-19 is revealing [...]
In an article posted September 25th, michiganradio.org notes the terror and anxiety among prisoners caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. John J. Lennon was a prisoner at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. John said that social distancing was impossible. He shared how making calls on prison phones meant being "chest to shoulders" with [...]
The Detroit Free Press published an article on September 7th detailing some of the many challenges re-entry poses for former prisoners. Getting a State ID or driver's license can be particularly difficult due to public health safety restrictions caused by the pandemic. [Daniel Robinson from Worthy and Able] estimates that 75 to 80 out [...]
USA Today reported on September 1st that the US Federal prison system will resume inmate visitation starting in October. This change, 7 months after visits were suspended because of the threat of COVID-19, was announced by officials on Tuesday. "We are committed to protecting the health and welfare of those inmates who are entrusted [...]
The Detroit Free Press reported on August 27th, 2020 that the union representing Michigan prison officers called for the removal of Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. The union noted that it has lost confidence in her leadership over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. "The Michigan Corrections Organization will be submitting a vote [...]
In a post published August 25th, MichiganRadio.org reports that many Michigan inmates say that they fear punitive responses from state prisons when dealing with COVID-19 and its spread among inmates. Throughout the pandemic, prisoners have raised concerns about how the Michigan Department of Corrections is responding to COVID-19 in the state's prisons. Read and listen to [...]
