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 [...]
In an article posted August 21st, 2020, The Detroit Free Press reported that nearly half of the prisoner population at the Muskegon Correctional Facility tested positive for COVID-19. Men incarcerated there told the Free Press they feel it's inevitable that the virus will spread even further behind the prison's walls. They fear for their health and [...]
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 [...]
A Washington Post editorial posted on August 21, 2020 notes the vulnerability of the prison population in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and the uneven efforts nationally to deal with this issue. The authors of the opinion article call for more prisoners to be released for health and safety reasons and to help [...]
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 [...]
