Humanity for Prisoners

  It must surely be a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit that even a small number of those men and women in the hell of the prison system survive it and hold on to their humanity.” ― Howard Zinn   The stuff I’m reading from and about Michigan prisons this week is so unpleasant! It underscores the very reason why HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS was formed 24 years ago, and the reason why, today, HFP offers a cup of cool water, “action with compassion.”   St. Louis Correctional Facility   The Michigan Corrections Organization reveals that it has received alarming reports from St. Louis CF exposing hazardous and unsafe conditions. “SLF experienced a rash of violence in July 2025 which included 15 staff assaults, 25 prisoner assaults, and 69 prisoners sent to segregation for fighting. Additionally, 23 prisoners went to segregation for protection and 45 for refusing to lock in general population. The facility was put on lock down multiple times including after a...

Bridge Michigan recently published a fine report on Michigan’s shameful practice of charging state prisoners for visiting the health clinic. At first glance one might think there’s still hope of eliminating that dumb co-pay idea. But as you read on it becomes apparent that hope for any change is grim. It ain’t gonna happen, and that’s an outrage!   FYI, Michigan prisoners pay a $5 copay for most medical visits.   5 bucks doesn’t seem like much. Keep in mind, however, that these men and women can earn as little as 74 cents per day in their prison jobs (wages haven’t gone up in decades!). Michigan is one of only 16 states where the co-pay for health care costs is more than the average weekly wage for inmates.   One of the arguments in favor of co-pay is that it not only discourages frivolous visits to the doctor’s office, but that it makes money for the state. I can’t prove this, but I insist that, to the contrary, this stupid practice costs the state money. Because ...

Here’s a problem that few people know about: Approximately 6% of the Michigan Department of Corrections budget is spent on overtime pay! Because of staff shortages corrections officers are working long hours. So many overtime hours, in fact, that it’s costing the state more than $112 million per year!   The problem is easily explained. Approximately half of Michigan's prisons are understaffed, with a shortage of around 900 officers statewide!   An in-depth report written by MLive reporter Nathan Clark tells the story well. And, it has clout because it reaches Michigan readers of 9 different newspapers.   On the other hand, instead of making that kind of impact along comes Doug Tjapkes, a little guy, a small market journalist whose radio station had 500 watts, who’s living in a city of 3,000 people, and who has no clout whatsoever. My mantra, in all my careers, has been to speak up for the little guy. So, regardless of impact or clout, I’d like to turn the focus fro...

“Lock him up and throw away the key!”   You’ll be hearing talk like that, once again, as Bradford Gille gets processed through the justice system. Gille is the man who stabbed 11 people at a Walmart in Traverse City on July 26. His family had been unsuccessfully trying to get help for this mentally challenged man for years. Now he faces 11 charges of assault with intent to murder, as well as one terrorism charge.   Even though Gille is obviously struggling with severe mental illness and needs appropriate psychiatric care and hospitalization, there is always the possibility that public clamor and aggressive criminal justice officials might determine that he’s well enough to be tried.   Sadly, it’s really the State of Michigan that is to blame, and who’s going to punish the state?   Since 1965, we closed 36 hospitals and centers serving adults with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and emotionally disturbed children. Between 1987 and 2003 alone, Mich...