Misconducts in Michigan Prisons

Coming to prison is often not the end of 'punishment' for Michgian prisoners. Many prisoners continue to regard authority of any kind with distain  and the administration has a series of misconduct reports ("tickets") they hand out, often very freely, in return.

Misconducts are broken down into three categories: Tiers I, II and III. Tier III is for very minor infractions such as violation of a posted rule (messy bunk area, or carrying food from the chow hall for example). There is virtually no hearing or due process provided when a prisoner is issued a Tier III violation. The penalty is usually anywhere from a verbal reprimand and 'counseling' to a few days of LOP. This is a minor 'loss of privileges' such as phone and microwave use, and yard restrictions. 

Tier II offenses include stealing, possession of stolen property, insolence to an officer, and so forth. While an inmate can request a hearing investigator and witnesses, the investigator is from administration and rarely interviews witnesses. There is nearly an automatic 'guilty' finding on most Tier II offenses, whether guilty or not. The administration is rarely interested in actual facts, and some officers fabricate offenses to harass inmates they have problems with or don't like. While some inmates would have you believe this happens often, I suspect it's not as widespread as some might believe. Most Tier II misconducts carry a few days LOP or Top Lock (more restrictive than LOP). Some may cause you to lose your prison job, or land you in the hole for a short stay. 

Tier I offenses include fighting, threatening behavior, nearly all sexual offenses, and so forth. These are more serious and usually include an automatic trip to segregation (the hole). Policy requires a hearing to be conducted within a few days so a not-guilty finding won't keep someone in segregation unduly. Hearing investigators are nearly automatic and the results are often the same as Tier II offenses. While it's possible to be found not guilty on a misconduct, most of the time these occur from technical violations such as the officer using the wrong misconduct code on the ticket. The hearing officers almost never believe an inmate over an officer, regardless of the evidence. 

Tier I and II offenses include "points" that go on your prison record and can contribute to transferring to a higher security level, and may even effect parole. Staying misconduct free, and maintaining a job are two ways to reduce your points and therefore make you eligible for reduced security levels. 

It's difficult to maintain a misconduct-free record in prison, but it's not impossible. Most inmates who receive misconducts regularly resist authority and they accept the misconducts as part of the consequences.

Michigan Prison Levels

Michigan Prisons are divided into several different levels. Level five is the most restrictive and is usually referred to as "Maximum security" or "Max" for short. Other than the few prisoners assigned jobs, prisoners are locked down 23 hours a day. Meals are brought to your cell, yard time is alone in a cage outside, showers are in a cage or in cuffs, and you must request legal research material to be brought to your cell (for appeals). 

In a level five you have your own cell and socialization is restricted to who can hear you through your locked door. Although nationwide the tide is turning against long-term use of such isolated and restrictive custody due to mental health issues, Michigan still espouses the use of maximum security as a long-term custody solution.

Level four prisons have between one and three yard times depending on the prison. More prisoners have jobs, which range from working in the kitchen, yard crew, maintenance, various clerks and house unit porters (janitors). Those without jobs are either waiting to be assigned one, or are attending school to get their GED. A large percentage of prisoners do not have a high school diploma. 

Level four prisons often have more violence than lower levels because those that catch fighting and assault tickets (i.e., those with higher assault risk) are sent to a level four as part of their custody management. The ratio of corrections officers to prisoners is much higher in level four prisons as well. Shake-downs are common as are lock-downs due to fights. Level four prisons have limited programming available, basically restricted to some required classes. Housing is generally limited to two man cells, but single cells are available in select prisons.

Level one and level two prisons generally have open yard except during count times or meal times. Housing is two man, or four man cells (level two only), or six, or eight man (sometimes more) cubicles. The ratio of officers to inmates is lower and movement is less controlled. 

The programming available in level one and two prisons often includes non-mandatory classes designed to help prisoners gain additional skills or education. In the prison I'm currently at, this include classes such as "Business Plan Writing", "CDL training" (written test only), "Ethics", "Food Tech", "Business Education Technology" (Microsoft Certified), and others. Other prisons also offer things like auto mechanics, welding, horticulture, and other skills, but recent cutbacks have severely limited the availability of these programs, and are threatening others. All non-mandatory classes are based on first-come, first-serve basis.

Lower levels often include additional options for recreation, and hobbycraft, and sometimes other privileges such as a personal garden (must be misconduct free).
Next time, Misconducts and Tasers.

Your next stop in Michigan Prisons

Where you go from Quarantine is determined by several factors, including your sentence length, your crime (in some cases), your home region, your prior prison or jail conduct, and where your known enemies or co-defendants are housed. 

Prisoners with sentences of more than seven years start out in a level four prison. Only level five is higher in security and this is reserved for prisoners who have attempted escape, or severely assaulted staff and in some cases other inmates. A fight will usually not do it, it has be more serious. 

Prisoners must stay in a level four prison until they have less than seven years on their sentence, or they served three years in a level four. To transfer to a lower (less restrictive) level you must have not accumulated too many points by catching tickets for misconducts. Too many or any serious misconducts will keep you in a level four. 

Those requiring a single cell designation because of their crime or predatory behavior while in prison will remain in a level four prison until that designation is removed (often many years).

Prisoners with more than three years, but less than seven start out in a level two prison (there's no level three anymore), and those with less than three start in a level one prison. Each level has different levels of restrictions and different access to DOC programming and various privileges. 

Next time... the levels defined.

What's Prison Like in Michigan?

People who have never been to prison in Michigan or who are not closely connected to someone who has, may wonder what prison is like in Michigan. The next few posts I'll shed a little light on what it's like. 

After being sentenced to prison your first stop is Quarantine in Jackson Michigan. After sometimes months in the county jail, Quarantine is your first opportunity to go outside. Since this is a first stop for all prisoners, the population is a mix of parole violators looking at only a few months in prison to murderers serving life sentences. 

Quarantine is very crowded and you're stuffed in like sardines. Mealtimes are rushed and you're only allowed one hour of yard time per day. Inmates are paraded into the showers where you have a very short time to wash up before being told your time is up. 

Because Quarantine is not designed for long-term housing, the 20+ hours a day spent in your crowded and dilapidated cell is overwhelmingly boring. Access to books and writing materials is severely limited. Access to proper hygiene supplies is minimal and staff have little to no concern if you stink. Many inmates catch "tickets" meaning their privileges are restricted further, often carrying into whatever prison they are eventually transferred to. 

In Quarantine you're evaluated (briefly) by a psychologist, and DOC counselor. Here you designate your religion, get evaluated by medical staff, get reviewed for STG status (gang affiliation), and are given a "plan" for your stay in prison. This includes programming you're required to take, as well as school or vocational "counseling". Your time in Quarantine often ranges from three weeks to three months.

Next time... your next stop after Quarantine.