WHV History: Healthcare, terrible! HFP, wonderful!

August, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of Humanity for Prisoners. This is the seventh in a series of reflections by founder Doug Tjapkes.

 

Michigan has just one prison for women. At any given time some 2,000 women are locked up in that facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This prison, Women’s Huron Valley, has been in the news a lot lately. Much of the disturbing coverage has been due to the fact that 5 persons have died there since mid-May. This has lawmakers, prisoner advocates and even editorial writers demanding improvements in what has been labelled “health care neglect.” 

As I read one of the most recent articles on the topic in the Detroit News this week I was reminded that Michigan’s shameful treatment of women has been a subject of concern for us from day one. Our care, our concern and our actions have drawn the love and respect of those behind bars in Ypsi. 

As I look back on our many experiences, our wonderful bond with the women of HFP is no surprise. I remember--- 

-driving to Watervliet early one morning to hold the door open for an HFP client stepping into freedom;

-making personal visits to clients in the facility;

-standing at the podium in the WHV auditorium as a guest speaker;

-presenting a gospel music concert featuring our group, Sweet Freedom;

-sharing whistleblower notes from clients prompting a Justice Department probe;

-rescuing a client stranded in a blizzard on the day of her release; and,

-arranging an in-prison birthday party for a client and her 8-year-old daughter. 

Perhaps one of the most meaningful experiences began in a prison assembly featuring presentations by me and by our board chair, Dr. Dan Rooks. I talked about HFP’s work and the services that were available. Dan then went through a meaningful exercise with the audience about self-esteem. The women loved it! 

As I was concluding my part of the program a lady in the front row raised her hand. “We’d like to ask a huge favor,” she said with teary eyes. “One of our friends is in the final stages of cancer and has only about 6 months to live. She simply wants to die at home, surrounded by her family. The Parole Board agreed to consider her request, and a public hearing has been scheduled for next Tuesday. Would you be willing to speak on her behalf?” 

Well, participating in public hearings for residents of WHV was nothing new for me, but I could not give a definitive reply. In that I wasn’t allowed to take my pocket calendar into the prison with me, I just wasn’t sure next Tuesday could work. I assured the women, though, that if my schedule was free, I would be there. 

The date was open. 

I told my story to the Parole Board. 

The dying woman was granted freedom! 

Our WHV friends were overjoyed, grateful! 

The occupants of this prison will always be served with love and respect by HFP, just as we do for the men in all the other Michigan facilities. 

That’s who we are. That’s what we’ve been doing for the past 25 years. That’s what we’ll continue to do! 

Action with compassion!



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