Our treatment of incarcerated women: Horrid!

 It was a 90-minute session filled with horror stories. Then came the headlines: 

Mistreatment, mold alleged at women’s prison---Detroit News 

Bipartisan outrage erupts at House hearing on conditions inside Michigan’s only women’s prison---Detroit Metro-Times 

House Oversight Committee demands answers on mold, safety concerns at Huron Valley prison facility---Michigan Advance 

‘Infested with Mold’ and Suicide Bets: Inside Michigan’s Women’s Prison Horror Show---Hoodline 

Women's Prison Called 'Michigan's Death Sentence'  ---Michigan Information and Research Service, Inc. 

Lawmaker says Michigan treats its women prisoners worse than animals--- Detroit Free Press 

And that’s just a sampling. All of this in response to a hearing this week conducted by the state legislature’s House Oversight Committee. The focus was on complaints of alleged problems at Women’s Huron Valley, Michigan’s only prison for women, located in Ypsilanti. 

Sadly, this was nothing new to our office. For more than 2 decades I have been battling these shameful conditions at WHV. In fact, years ago a previous warden was so incensed by my efforts to expose these problems that he banned me from the premises! Prior to that, I had spoken in several assemblies there and participated in a gospel concert for the women. 

Our thanks to the House Oversight Committee for conducting this important hearing, and its chairman Rep. Jay DeBoyer of Algonac. There were numerous witnesses, and there was written testimony, including that from HFP. In addition to an audience in the gallery, interested people could watch the hearing on the Michigan House of Representatives’ You Tube channel. And they did! The channel averages about 70 views per video…some even receiving less than 30 views. The total for this currently exceeds 1,000, believed to be an all-time high! 

Our hero of the day: committee member Representative Reggie Miller of Van Buren Township. 

Said Rep. Miller: “Today in the House Oversight Committee, we heard testimony on Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility (WHV). We heard what we’ve known all along: Conditions at this facility are deplorable.” 

She cited:

1.      Mold leading to health issues

2.      Lack of adequate healthcare

3.      Lack of disability accommodations

4.      Restricted visitation

5.      Drugs brought in by employees

6.      Serious substance abuse

7.      Wrong medication given to women who died

8.      Missing meals

9.      Rape cases

10. Whistleblower retaliation

11. Sexual harassment 

She responded: “To me, that is waste, fraud and abuse that should be addressed and that should have been done decades ago! When looking for waste, fraud, and abuse, WHV is a good place to start.” 

Committee members made suggestions that both WHV Warden Jeremy Howard and MDOC Director Heidi Washington be summoned for personal appearances. We’ll see. 

Meanwhile, it’s hard to argue with Rep. Miller’s conclusion: “As a state, we can do better, and we MUST do better!” 

 “…remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison…”Hebrews 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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