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 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 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 [...]
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."
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 [...]
The Prison Policy Initiative published a brief on May 21, 2020 that explores how parole "program requirements", often delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, keep prisoners locked up who could safely be released. As the briefing notes: These are the people who have already been granted parole by the state parole boards, but have not yet [...]
