Covid Changed How Michigan Prisons Operate

 When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States, prisons were especially hard hit. As total institutions, with men (and women in women's prisons) crammed tightly together in small spaces and sharing restrooms and common areas, prisons let the pandemic spread like wildfire. 

Many incarcerated men and women lost their lives, and even more suffered the effects of Covid without the comforts of home and loved ones to care for them. Some are even still experiencing the effects of long Covid. 

For reasons I'll never understand, our Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, chose to not utilize her administrative powers to release low risk prisoners on tether in order to minimize the spread and effects of the virus. Some other states utilized tether programs to reduce their prison populations and lessen the danger to the lives of their prisoners. 

Across the nation, prison administrators implemented measures to attempt to reduce the spread of the virus in prisons, but these measures were largely ineffective. In Michigan, prisons eliminated in-person visits and eventually introduced video visitation. It's not the same, but at least we can still see our loved ones. 

Video visits are still available for Michigan prisoners, which is a good thing, although they are limited to twenty minutes and cost our loved ones roughly $3.50. The technology has also had a lot of glitches and problems, making video visits often frustrating. The machines are also installed in high traffic areas with no privacy for the prisoner and his visitor(s).  

In-person visits have also returned to Michigan's prisons, but they are now much changed. We used to be able to have hours long visits, stopped only by the end of visiting times or an influx of visitors that required cancellation of some visits. Our visitors also did not need to "reserve" a visit. Now, our visitors must utilize an outside service (GTL) to reserve a visiting time, and visits are limited to a maximum of two hours. 

Movement within Michigan prisons was also limited during Covid. Prisons that had open yard times either shut yards down entirely or restricted the times when each housing unit could be on yard. Now that the pandemic is over, Michigan prisons have continued to use restricted movement plans. 

I am in a level 1 prison (Parnall Correctional Facility), which is Michigan's least restrictive level, and movement here is controlled like more restrictive levels were prior to Covid. Additionally, internal fences that separate housing units were installed during Covid, and they remain in place even today. Housing units are also still isolated from each other to some degree. 

Michigan's prison system, at least, has taken advantage of the changes the Covid pandemic prompted in order to implement stricter controls and offer prisoners fewer activities and options for positive use of their time. Michigan's severe corrections officer shortage has not helped the situation, either. 

It's unclear to me whether Michigan will ever return to pre-pandemic practices and policies, but it seems unlikely. It appears like we're stuck with these more restrictive and less supportive measures.