In an article published August 24, 2020, bridgemi.com reported that, with a new surge of COVID-19 cases in Michigan's prisons, many inmates who test positive are placed in solitary confinement. Since March, the Michigan Department of Corrections has placed inmates who are sick or suspected of being so in solitary confinement — which is normally [...]
The Detroit Free Press reported on August 19th, 2020 that all prison staff are now required to get tested for COVID-19 under an emergency order issued that same day. Weekly testing will be required of employees who work in facilities with positive cases confirmed among prisoners or staff within the last 14 days. Testing in those [...]
An MLive report posted on August 15, 2020 notes that because of a major spike in COVID-19 cases in Michigan prisons, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order establishing new coronavirus safety and testing protocols inside correctional facilities through the end of September.
In an article published August 13, 2020, MLive reports that Michigan is experiencing the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in its prisons since spring. Muskegon Correctional Facility is reported to have close to 400 cases, while Newberry Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula reportedly has 32 inmates testing positive. Prison staff are also impacted - 8 [...]
MLive reported on July 31st, 2020 that a unit of the Muskegon Correctional Facility was placed on isolation after multiple inmates tested positive for COVID-19. Inmates who tested positive were transferred to a hospital in Jackson, or to different prisons with an isolated unit for coronavirus patients. David Brazee, a spokesperson for Michigan Department [...]
The Detroit Free Press reported in an article published July 24, 2020 that active COVID-19 cases in Michigan prisons are down. COVID-19 infected about 10% of Michigan's prison population and while the downward trend in cases is good news, experts, staff, and prisoners all warn that it is not time to be complacent. The [...]
The Detroit Free Press published an article on July 23rd highlighting a new program the Michigan Department of Corrections is rolling out to seven of its 29 prisons. The program will allow prisoners to make and receive video calls. The article notes that MDOC's telephone vendor, Global Tel Link, will provide video calls for [...]
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.
