Calls for Reduction in Prison Population Aims to Protect Residents

As of Easter Sunday, the Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting a total of nine prisoner deaths from COVID-19. Recent articles published in the Detroit Free Press have criticized the department's response to the virus, indicating that it continued to move infected prisoners around the state, failed to adequately provide cleaning supplies, quarantined some infected prisoners so that they had no access to phones or JPay kiosks to keep in touch with family, and more. Undoubtedly, the department has failed in some ways, but they continue to work hard to respond appropriately to this unprecedented pandemic. 

The reality is that prisons are dangerous places to be when a hidden killer spreads like wildfire in places where large numbers of people congregate. Prisons are nearly impossible to run for any extended period of time without prisoners gathering or being "herded" through chow lines. Hundreds of prisoners share bathroom facilities, email kiosks, phones, door handles, and more. These incidental contact opportunities are all ripe with the risk of spreading infection. The only answer is to reduce the number of prisoners housed in each prison. 

Prisoner advocacy organizations, like American Friends Service Committee, Detroit Justice Center, MI-CURE, Michigan Prisoner Rehabilitation Credit Act, Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Nation Outside, and others are advocating on behalf of Michigan's prisoners to propose solutions to the governor's office. While some of the actions they call for may seem outlandish, it serves to reason that many prisoners would be safer outside of prison during this pandemic. Low hanging fruit, ripe for action by the governor, include immediately releasing prisoners who have already received paroles but are awaiting their release date, those who are medically frail, those who are past or within 6-12 months of their earliest release date, and non-violent offenders, including technical violators. 

Releasing these prisoners would immediately reduce the number of prisoners in Michigan by at least 5,000 prisoners, if not more. It won't be a solution for those left inside, but it will reduce incidental contact and exposure for us. So called violent prisoners, especially those who have served 20 years or more, are also some of the least likely to recidivate if released, so the governor has an unprecedented opportunity to reduce the number of prisoners serving long indeterminate sentences. 

Whatever happens in the weeks and months to come, the coronavirus pandemic provides lawmakers with an opportunity to drastically reduce Michigan's burgeoning $2.2 billion corrections budget and to fix sentencing issues that have resulted in Michigan's reputation for the longest average sentences in the Midwest. It shouldn't take a pandemic for lawmakers to act, but since we're here now, let's take the opportunity to correct many of these issues. It's going to take innovative and courageous action for our state to recover economically when this is all over. Decreasing the state's spending on over-incarceration just makes sense as a place to start. 

We can't stop the destruction this virus is causing, but the legislature and governor have a duty to protect Michigan's citizens, as much as possible, from unnecessary exposure to the virus' destruction--including prisoners. Releasing as many prisoners as can be done safely is not just smart, it's responsible governing.