Michiganders, what are you going to do about this?
Two things came across my desk today that should irritate every Michigan citizen!
First, the Associated Press reported that according to state auditors, the Michigan Department of Corrections paid nearly $67-million in overtime to prison guards in the 2006-07 budget year. In fact, one officer worked 2,390 overtime hours! That's like working more than two full-time jobs. Prisoners tell us they have heard guards boasting about how much money they're taking home. And while prison guards are living that way, let me tell you how some of our prisoners are living.
I received a letter today from a prisoner at the Mid-Michigan Correctional Facility, located in St. Louis, Michigan, who shall remain anonymous for obvious reasons.
There is no doctor here. For some reason whenever there is a new doctor, they never stay. It's so hard for anyone to see a doctor, and the lucky ones may see one after months of complaining or going through physical ailments. There's no dentist here, either.
I had X-rays about 3-4 months ago. I have yet to receive the results, let alone a diagnosis. I would like a prescription, but the nurses laugh at me and suggest that I go to the store and buy pain medicine.
Re bathroom facilities: It should be against the law for a person forced to use the toilet in standing water on the floor. And we are so overcrowded! We're housed in units designed for 80 men, and each unit has double that amount. That means there are 160 men trying to use 8 toilets and 6 urinals, and at least one toilet is not operating. 7 toilets for the entire unit! Most of the sinks leak, and the ventilation is poor.
There is no sprinkler system in any of the buildings for fires.
I'll bet that guard who worked nearly 2,400 overtime hours doesn't live like this!
Doug Tjapkes
HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS
20 W. Muskegon Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49440
First, the Associated Press reported that according to state auditors, the Michigan Department of Corrections paid nearly $67-million in overtime to prison guards in the 2006-07 budget year. In fact, one officer worked 2,390 overtime hours! That's like working more than two full-time jobs. Prisoners tell us they have heard guards boasting about how much money they're taking home. And while prison guards are living that way, let me tell you how some of our prisoners are living.
I received a letter today from a prisoner at the Mid-Michigan Correctional Facility, located in St. Louis, Michigan, who shall remain anonymous for obvious reasons.
There is no doctor here. For some reason whenever there is a new doctor, they never stay. It's so hard for anyone to see a doctor, and the lucky ones may see one after months of complaining or going through physical ailments. There's no dentist here, either.
I had X-rays about 3-4 months ago. I have yet to receive the results, let alone a diagnosis. I would like a prescription, but the nurses laugh at me and suggest that I go to the store and buy pain medicine.
Re bathroom facilities: It should be against the law for a person forced to use the toilet in standing water on the floor. And we are so overcrowded! We're housed in units designed for 80 men, and each unit has double that amount. That means there are 160 men trying to use 8 toilets and 6 urinals, and at least one toilet is not operating. 7 toilets for the entire unit! Most of the sinks leak, and the ventilation is poor.
There is no sprinkler system in any of the buildings for fires.
I'll bet that guard who worked nearly 2,400 overtime hours doesn't live like this!
Doug Tjapkes
HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS
20 W. Muskegon Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49440
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