Serious drug problems in Michigan prisons? You have no idea!

We’ve always known that there’s a drug problem in the Michigan prison system. It’s that way in every state. But, there’s word now that the issue is much more serious than we thought. 

For years the HFP team has been hearing horror stories from our clients about drug availability, drug use and drug overdoses in our state prisons. 

Now comes a prison employee, a “whistle-blower,” who details a deadly culture in the MDOC. He’s willing to name names and provide documentation. He’s been yipping about it for a few years. The worst part of this story: Nobody will do anything about it! 

Finally, in recent days, this whistleblower shared his story with a Detroit reporter, and he is doing something about it! The shocking information is being made public. 

Eddie B. Allen, Jr., is a writer for the Detroit Metro Times, which is an alternative weekly newspaper with a huge circulation. Allen says that this person told him: “One of prison’s worst-kept secrets is that almost anything sold outside the walls can be purchased inside.” The snitch related tales of personally witnessing countless inmate drug overdoses. 

The list of alleged conspirators, just in his facility, includes about 50 MDOC employees---specifically current and former prison guards, nurses and “non-custody” staff responsible for inmate support, volunteers, as well as 50 to 75 MDOC inmates. He insists that direct evidence and sworn testimony can be provided to prove such atrocities as collusion between MDOC personnel and prisoners in smuggling fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other drugs; extortion of inmates by staff members; and, MDOC administration’s actual efforts to suppress and prevent drug investigations! 

The MDOC has always admitted that there are trafficking issues and has insisted that it is taking continuous steps to stop the introduction of all contraband, including drugs, from entering correction facilities. Strong inspection efforts have been put in place to screen anything that visitors might try to bring into the prison. It’s OK to blame visitors, and I suspect they have been a part of the problem. But, during COVID, there were no visitors, yet the problem continued! Two guesses as to how the drugs continued to get in. 

The whistle-blower told the reporter of multiple death threats from both prison guards and inmates, and claimed to have watched up to 150 prisoners foam at the mouth, “turn blue,” and occasionally die in overdose incidents. 

Another former prisoner told writer Allen: “There’s overdoses every day, at damn-near every facility!” As a result, records show a huge increase in ambulance service at MDOC facilities. 

One wonders why all of this evidence, clearly available, is being ignored. Does the MDOC have that kind of clout…the kind that persuades other state agencies not to investigate? 

Well, law enforcement and government agencies may have ignored the whistle-blower, but he has one strong ally: Jack Wagner, co-founder and president of Michigan Justice Advocacy. After meeting, talking with and working with this guy, he is quoted as saying, “Oh, my God! If this is going on at that facility, it’s rampant at other facilities.” 

Yep.