In an article posted on July 22nd, BridgeMI.com explores how Michigan jail populations have fallen amid the coronavirus pandemic as jails and judges have released prisoners to help reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19. This has happened without a spike in crime, encouraging reformers who say this shows it is possible to reduce incarceration [...]
The Detroit Free Press published an article on July 20th about how prisoners and their advocates are concerned with the rising summer heat, the lack of air conditioning in most of Michigan's prisons, and current prison policies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Prisoners are required to wear masks except when they're eating, [...]
An article highlighting Shearod McFarland's experience inside Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan was posted to Salon.com as part of a series of excerpts from "Unheard Voices of the Pandemic" by Voice of Witness. McFarland shares his experience and how the prison population has reacted to the threat of COVID-19 and also how prison staff have handled quarantining. McFarland starkly notes, "social distancing is virtually impossible" inside a prison.
In an article posted on July 13, 2020, michiganadvance.com examines a report that criticizes prisons nationwide over the COVID-19 response. The article notes that despite the low grade, Michigan ranks 2nd among all the states. Michigan Department of Corrections argues that, "a good score would be virtually impossible to achieve, given the initiative’s chosen metrics." [...]
The Detroit News published an Opinion/Editorial article on July 8th that argues that some of Michigan's budget crisis could be lessened by undertaking real jail and prison reform. The article notes: Michigan could address both its severe budget shortfall and the need to reduce its prison and jail populations by moving swiftly to pass a set [...]
The University of Pennsylvania's Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice produced an interactive view of crime statistics in U.S. cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. View more at https://citycrimestats.com/covid/
The NY Times editorial board published an opinion article on June 25th about how federal prison officials have known the dangers of the spread of coronavirus inside prisons early on but have delayed in releasing at-risk inmates. The piece notes that: Currently, the nation’s top five Covid-19 hot spots are all correctional facilities, according [...]
The Marshall Project is a non-profit journalism project that is tracking COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. Interactive data helps people see just how widespread COVID-19 is among prisons and the toll it is taking on prisoners and staff. Much of the remarkable growth in coronavirus cases has been due to some states—Michigan, Ohio, [...]
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 [...]
