Trying to Make Sense of Nonsense in Prison

 "It makes no sense!" one prisoner complained to another on his way to chow. "First, they lock the close contact prisoners in the dayroom," the first prisoner continued, "then they let the prisoners who tested positive for Covid run around the housing unit with those who tested negative." His comments came the morning after more Covid testing resulted in twenty-four positive tests in our housing unit. 

"Are you trying to make sense of what the administration does around here?" the second prisoner asked sarcastically. "You know how it is in prison. Common sense is not common, and logic is totally missing."  

This scene, which actually took place on a recent morning walk to breakfast, is common to hear in prison. Prisoners complain about the illogical decision making of the prison administration and prison guards. Usually, after the prisoner grumbles for a minute or two, either reality dawns on him, or someone reminds him of reality. Administrative decisions in prison are often illogical. It's illogical to expect otherwise. 

But it's difficult to not be perplexed by the complete idiocy of some decisions. I suppose several possibilities for this idiocy exists. Perhaps decisions are made out of ignorance. Or, they could be driven by bureaucratic rules that often make no sense on the application level. Finally, and the one most prisoners default to blaming, is idiotic decisions might have nefarious motives. 

When, for example, the twenty-four prisoners in our housing unit who tested positive for Covid-19 were recently allowed to roam around the housing unit for hours before they were moved, it made no sense. They were unnecessarily exposing those of us who tested negative. When their bunkies, who tested negative but were deemed "close contact," were locked in the dayroom for hours during this same time, the decision felt beyond idiotic. At first, many of us believed it was bureaucratic nonsense that led to this decision, but then we heard the officers talking. They were aware of the stupidity of such actions, and they laughed about it. 

Prisoners are often cynical about decisions made by prison staff, and sometimes those decisions, while illogical on their face, have at least a reasonable motive behind them. This is not one of those cases. Despite department claims that it is doing all it can to protect its wards (us prisoners), those public relations sound bites ring hollow. Instead of being driven by the goal to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it often feels like decisions are driven by low staff levels and hazard pay bonuses available during outbreak statuses. 

I admit, prison has made me highly cynical of bureaucrats, especially of those who thumb their noses at rules, laws, and common decency while punishing me for breaking the law. It's difficult to not feel jaded at a time like this. Yet, despite the prison administration's best attempts to spread the virus around, I'll continue to take all available measures in this highly congested system to protect myself.

Covid Infection Spike Worsens Michigan Prison Staffing Shortages

 The Michigan Department of Corrections has been short staffed for several years now. Retirements, lower starting salaries and benefits, and a new generation of potential employers who don't want to be without their phones for hours at a time are making it difficult for the department to hire much needed corrections officers. Furthermore, low morale, excessive mandatory overtime, and a sudden plethora of other good paying jobs are making it difficult for the department to retain the staff they already have.

Now, the recent Covid-19 infection spike, likely due to the omicron variant, is worsening the staffing shortages. Already stressed out and overworked corrections officers are being mandated to work several days of overtime every week. Even non-custody staff are working overtime as corrections officers to fill the large gaps of missing employees. 

Recently, Governor Whitmer announced her approval to use the National Guard to fill in as corrections officers in order to keep prison facilities "running safely." While the federal government has utilized the unique circumstances of this pandemic to cut sentences of some of its inmates to reduce the federal prison population, Governor Whitmer, instead, is holding fast. Despite the death of hundreds of Michigan prisoners and staff members due to Covid-19 spreading in the close confines of prison settings, Michigan's prisons are still overcrowded, and Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature still refuse to make prison conditions safer by reducing the population. 

Michigan has reduced its prison population in the last few years, mainly by changing parole violation rules, but its prisons are still overcrowded. Prisons built for hundreds of prisoners now house double their rated capacities, conditions ripe for the spread of a pandemic. If these are not the conditions for use of Governor Whitmer's emergency Executive powers, I don't know what are. 

The Michigan Legislature has refused to consider several "good time" bills in its recent session, kicking the issue down the road as it has for years. Now, a grassroots effort is, yet again, underway to use the power of voters to make necessary changes. If the legislature and our Governor won't use their powers to further reduce our state's prison population and make conditions safer, perhaps a ballot initiative can make it happen. As soon as I have more information on how you can sign this important petition, I will post it here. 

Too many prisoners have died because of their exposure to Covid-19 in one of the highest risk conditions--a prison setting. Since so many corrections officer and non-custody staff are also being forced to spend more time in these conditions, it's no wonder many of them are looking for other places to work. Fortunately for them, they have that choice, while we residents of prison do not. 

It's time for Michigan to start taking the lives of their incarcerated citizens seriously. Sending in the National Guard is not going to make those of us who live in prison any safer from a pandemic that is taking lives.

Commuting Sentences Makes Sense for Some Elderly Prisoners

 (This is a guest post by lifer and fellow prisoner, John Halcomb)

Hey Michigan Citizens!

Let's go on a "Did you know?" journey to understand who is responsible for where your taxes go, and for ensuring public safety against elderly prisoners who have been incarcerated for more than 30 or 40 years. These prisoners have been punished for decades and are no longer a risk to your safety. 

We all know that prisons play a societal role in increasing public safety for law abiding citizens (that's you!) from other citizens who broke the law (that's me, among others). But, did you know that the phrase "Public Safety" is still used to justify the endless incarceration of elderly, and often debilitated prisoners, who broke the law more than 30 years ago (yes, that's three or more decades!), and are still incarcerated?

Did you know that the Corrections budget for 2021-2022 is $2.2 billion? It costs $36k on average each year to house level 2 (medium security) prisoners in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Michigan's prison population is nearly 34,000 prisoners and almost 4,000 of these prisoners are serving a life sentence without parole eligibility (LWOP). This means that either Governor Whitmer must be persuaded to grant mercy through commuting sentences for older prisoners, or legislators must be persuaded to legally amend the State statute for a reduction of punishment for these elderly prisoners who have paid their debts to society through long-term punishment. 

Did you know that in the name of public safety, according to MDOC Information Officer Chris Gautz, Michigan has the country's oldest prison population? That means, every time our Governor declines to commute a prisoner's request for a second chance at freedom, who has served more than 30 years of punishment and is no longer a public safety risk, taxpayers (that's you) must pay roughly $200,000, plus medical costs (which increase dramatically for aged prisoners), to continue incarceration for another five years.

Did you know that continuing to incarcerate people sentenced to 20 or more years in prison costs taxpayers (that's you) about $456 million annually? Even in cases where a prisoner demonstrates rehabilitation through qualities like taking responsibility for their wrongful deeds, earning a college degree, having available employment, or having support from family or forgiveness from a victim or victim's family, they remain incarcerated indefinitely. This means that Michigan is simply warehousing these aging prisoners in contrast to their own departmental data that shows long-term serving prisoners have only a 0.1% recidivism (re-offense) rate, compared to the 38% recidivism rate of prisoners with lesser crimes. Yet, taxpayers (that's you) are left bearing the financial burden of paying to keep elderly prisoners that are long past being a threat to the public, simply because our Governor doesn't want to be labeled as "soft on crime" by granting commutations that would ease the tax burden of our citizenry. 

Did you know that a prisoner who has served more than 30 years of punishment and has exceeded the age of 50 years old is a good candidate for Governor Whitmer's commuting powers? This is because the MDOC statistics show that elderly prisoners age out of crime, the prison environment has done its job of deterring future re-offending, and rehabilitation is achieved. Moreover, elderly prisoners desire what free citizens (that's you) have: to have a family, to contribute in some meaningful way to society to make up for their wrongs, and to live in a safe community.

Did you know that former Governor Rick Snyder commuted 26 sentences, 12 of which were being served for first degree murder? Similarly, former Governor Jennifer Granholm commuted 168 lifer sentences, 44 of whom had been convicted of murder, and none have violently re-offended or become a risk to public safety. Governor Granholm once said, "We have to distinguish between who we are angry with, and who we are afraid of." Governor Granholm, a former prosecutor, showed amazing insight by recognizing citizens can be angry at law-breakers, but they do not have to be afraid of those elderly prisoners who have been punished long enough and are safe to release back into Michigan's communities. 

Did you know that you can make a difference in Michigan's political arena? If you believe a change is needed in how our state continues to inflict punishment on elderly prisoners, then contact Governor Whitmer's office and ask her to commute more elderly lifers' sentences. Or, contact your local State representative to urge establishing a criteria for amending the mandatory lifer law and reducing sentences for prisoners who have served more than 30 years and are over 50 years old. In this way, the societal role of prisons has satisfied its objective to protect society, punish the guilty, and most importantly, rehabilitate the offender. 

Governor Whitmer's office: (517) 373-3400
www.house.michigan.gov
www.senate.michigan.gov
www.legislature.mi.gov

Costly Prison Repairs Desperately Needed in Michigan

 A recent article in the Detroit Free Press ("DOC finds problems with own report," 12/26/21) highlighted the many structural repairs needed in Michigan prisons. But it also highlighted the discrepancies between what the Department claims in public filings and what it actually needs. A recent report compiled by the MDOC outlined $255 million in needed repairs throughout Michigan's dozens of prisons. But MDOC spokesman Chris Gautz had qualms with some of the report's verbiage. 

The report repeatedly listed some repairs as needed due to potentially "dangerous" or "life threatening" conditions. Gautz disagreed with such descriptions for many of the necessary repairs. While the Department agrees that many repairs are needed, and some desperately, apparently it cannot agree on whether or not the conditions necessitating repairs are "dangerous" or "life threatening." The report that Department spokesman Gautz contradicts was prepared by the MDOC itself, as part of a request for federal dollars. 

It is hardly surprising to find discrepancies in government reports, but one must ask why such verbiage was used by the report's writers if the Department disagrees with such urgency. (Or perhaps the Department simply dislikes having such problems described so clearly.) With so many federal dollars available in this pandemic era, one must wonder if the Department was caught with its hand in the cookie jar. Was urgent language used to increase the odds that the Department would receive federal funds? 

Some of the repairs listed in the DFP article are certainly difficult to imagine as either dangerous or life threatening. But after years of watching patch jobs performed on dangerous and potentially life threatening structural problems in prison, I wonder if these ominous descriptions are applied liberally enough? In no less than three of the four prisons where I have been housed in nearly 13 years, black mold has been a persistent problem. As any medical professional can confirm, black mold is a potentially life threatening problem. 

The article lists both shower wall problems (resulting in black mold) and inefficient windows in the entire facility for the prison where I am housed (MTU in Ionia, Michigan). The single pane windows in each housing unit are highly inefficient. It's possible to keep a cup of water nearly ice cold by simply setting it on the sill next to the window. On the coldest winter nights, it's difficult for the electric wall heaters to keep up with the chillingly cold air blowing in through the old, inefficient windows. 

Nevertheless, you'd be hard pressed to find a single prisoner housed at MTU who would rather have inefficient windows replaced than to have clean water to drink. We'd gladly keep our single-paned, inefficient windows if we could drink water not clouded with iron and who knows what other residue. Years of complaints by prisoners have produced the same results: administrative staff claims testing shows the water is safe to drink, as they sip their bottled water (unavailable to prisoners) because they refuse to drink the water that is apparently good enough for prisoners. 

No, the cities of Benton Harbor and Flint do not hold a monopoly on bad water in Michigan. 

I'm no expert when it comes to whether problems are "dangerous" or potentially "life threatening," but it seems to me that the Michigan Department of Corrections might need outside, third-party experts to review the Department's needed repairs. With a long history of kicking the can down the road, so to speak, an independent review might help to determine what is actually dangerous and potentially life threatening. After all, if such conditions exist (as they surely do) the Department is bound to face more lawsuits for its negligence in failing to fix such problems.

New Year's Resolutions in Prison

I don't normally make New Year's resolutions, but for a "resolution" poetry contest at our prison facility, I thought through my intentions for the New Year. I don't know if it'll win any prizes or not, but I thought I'd share the poem with you. I hope you enjoy it. 

River Stone Faith

"Resolutions are meant to be broken"
The cynic dismissively claims.
"It's better to do than talk of doing;
New Year's resolutions are lame." 

To be resolute one is determined,
With firmness toward one's chosen goal. 
Steadfastly intentioned, faithfully true, 
Full devotion, body and soul.

Howe'er, firmness is sometimes one's problem, 
When he tries to hold back the tide,
The surging waves of dismay and sorrow, 
That pummel him from every side. 

'Tis better to be like a river stone, 
Whom the water flows right around. 
Accepting one's pain and sorrow with grace, 
No trace of resistance is found.

Graceful acceptance, my new intention. 
Resolute through broken desires.
Rough edges worn smooth by the pounding waves.
Anxious thoughts slowly retired.

Resolute faith is my resolution.
I believe that God's in control. 
He affords me His strength for resilience, 
Gives me peace, mind, body, and soul.

Without stress I'll be kinder to others, 
Just the way I'd like me to be. 
Even cynics and negative persons, 
Need positive models to see.

Although doubtful they're meant to be broken,
To keep resolutions is hard.
So, when my intentions falter, 

I'll heavily lean on the Lord.