Crisis in Michigan Prisons: Overworked Officers, Overlooked Solutions

Response to MCO’s Statement on Unsafe Conditions in Michigan Prisons
From Citizens for Prison Reform (CPR)

We read the recent report from MCO President B. Osborn regarding the alarming conditions at Chippewa Correctional Facility with both deep concern and empathy. (Read the full MCO statement here: MCO’s Crisis Statement – July 2025.)

We recognize and deeply appreciate the sacrifices and strain that Michigan corrections officers are under — the mandatory overtime, unsafe staffing levels, and increasing violence within prison walls are unacceptable, both for staff and the incarcerated population. CPR stands in solidarity with the call for immediate support and intervention.

However, we believe it is crucial to also address the root causes that have been ignored for far too long — and to confront the culture inside Michigan’s prisons that continues to reinforce crisis instead of healing.

For years, we have raised concerns about:

• The limited availability and accessibility of substance use treatment within Michigan prisons. While some programs do exist, they are not available to everyone who needs them. More importantly, treating addiction is not a one-size-fits-all approach — there should be various treatment options and programs that address the diverse and complex needs of individuals struggling with substance use disorder. This need is especially urgent in more restrictive settings, where access to treatment and supportive care is often lacking or severely limited.
  
• The lack of meaningful programming leaves incarcerated individuals without purpose or productive outlets. When prisons function as warehouses, behavioral issues and hopelessness increase. This is worsened by the absence of Good Time incentives, which strips away any meaningful incentive for personal growth, progress, or positive behavior.
  
• Restrictions on visitation directly fuel behavioral problems and drug use. Family connection is one of the most effective tools for rehabilitation, yet visitation continues to be restricted as a form of punishment — particularly for those struggling with substance use disorder. This cuts people off from their support systems at the exact moment they need connection the most. The result is increased isolation, worsened addiction-related behavior, and a practice that ultimately undermines both recovery and institutional stability.
  
• Data and documented cases clearly indicate that staff involvement is a significant part of the drug problem inside the prisons. Recent incidents in Michigan have confirmed corrections officers smuggling in drugs — including recent cases at Jackson and Kinross Correctional Facilities, where officers were criminally charged for bringing in Suboxone and synthetic drugs like K2 for distribution inside prison walls (WILX, Upper Michigan’s Source , Whistleblower).

In addition, recent audits by the Michigan Office of the Auditor General of Ionia, Baraga, and Handlon Correctional Facilities revealed alarming security failures — including falsified search records, inadequate screening of staff and cells, and other oversight breakdowns that create clear opportunities for contraband, including drugs, to be introduced by staff (WEMU). These breakdowns highlight the urgent need for greater transparency, accountability, oversight, and a full culture shift inside Michigan’s prisons.

Yes, corrections officers are being pushed to their limits — but so are the people they are overseeing. While we support the union’s call for addressing unsafe working conditions, we cannot allow these conversations to overlook the solutions that have long been on the table — including trauma-informed care, expanded mental health and substance use treatment, educational and rehabilitative programming, family reunification, and a meaningful shift toward a culture of healing within Michigan’s prisons.

This is not just a staffing crisis. It is a systemic failure rooted in a punishment-first, treatment-later mindset that does not work. We cannot fix this by increasing security measures and mandating longer shifts alone — we need a complete shift in priorities that recognizes the humanity of everyone inside these institutions.

We welcome the opportunity to stand alongside corrections officers in the demand for a safer, more sustainable system. But we urge policymakers, union leaders, and administrators to recognize that true safety comes from restoration, connection, and addressing the root causes that fuel this crisis.

It’s time to stop treating symptoms and start curing the disease.

Citizens for Prison Reform