79.-the-pandemic-inside.pdf
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THE PANDEMIC INSIDE: COVID-19
IN MICHIGAN PRISONS

compiled and edited by Michigan Abolition
and Prisoner Solidarity (MAPS)

Summer 2021

find more at michiganabolition.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 5
| Waited To Spread This Information... 9
Abolition 10
K-Unit Dubbed “Korona-Unit” and the "
Approaching Disaster for Michigan

Prisons

Symptoms & Solitary 14
Lack of Social Distancing Causes 15

COVID-19 Explosion in Michigan's
Agining and Overcrowded Prisons: An

Open Letter
Open Letters 9
Who is the Real Killer? 23
48 Hours of Panic Dammit (Pandemic) 2%
Releasing Prisonser is Good Public 2»
Health

Body Snatchers 35
COVID-19 Makes the Violence of 7

Prisons More Obvious

Corrections Officials Resort Back to 9
Warehousing Under Guise of COVID-19
Pandemic

Appendix a

The Pandemic Inside
INTRODUCTION

by MAPS

In certain ways, a global pandemic can act as a kind of
equalizer. COVID testing and vaccination have demon-
strated some collective capacity for free, universal
healthcare in a country with a system long dominated by
for-profit healthcare providers. In a very short period of
time, telehealth services long-needed by many working,
chronically ill, or disabled people became ubiquitous,
simply because “everyone else” needed them too. And
2020 saw the rollout of the closest thing Americans
have known to universal basic income in the form of en-
hanced unemployment benefits.

But we also know that COVID-19 did not affect every-
one equally. As usual, already marginalized populations
bore the brunt of its effects. Without the resources to
ride out the pandemic, for example, many people in
poor and racialized communities had to keep working
in person and were exposed to infection and premature
death at much higher rates than the wealthier and most-
ly white communities that could afford to take an ex-
tended leave or work remotely. In other words, the pan-
demic exacerbated already existing and uneven forms
of suffering and death.

This structural violence has been especially apparent in
prisons. The pandemic hit hard and fast in Michigan pris-
ons, and by May 2020 the Michigan Department of Cor-
rections (MDOC) had logged more prisoner deaths than
any other state. As we write this introduction in August
2021, 143 prisoners have officially died from COVID-19
in MDOC facilities (and this is probably an undercount),
and Michigan prisons still lead the country in infections
per capita (7,003 per 10,000).*

Statistics like these can give us a general overview of the
catastrophe, indicating some of the mechanisms by which
prisons make prisoners disposable, but they can't account

* see appendix pg. 41
The Pendemic Inside
for the granular, embodied experience of daily life under
such conditions. They miss the fears, hopes, and frustra-
tions, the abuse, cruelty, and indifference to which incar-
cerated people were subjected by politicians, officials, and
‘guards at every level. They also fall to document the forms
‘of mutual aid and resistance, some more spectacular than
‘others, by which prisoners have tried to stay safe. This is
why we have decided to publish a selection of writings on
the experience of the coronavirus pandemic by prisoners
of the MDOC. These writings were sent to Michigan Ab-
olition and Prisoner Solidarity (MAPS), a group organiz-
ing in solidarity with prison rebels, over the last year and
a half. Many of these submissions were initially intended
for MAPS's quarterly newsletter, The Opening Statement,
which circulates among over a hundred imprisoned sub-
scribers. However, we hope they can find a broader audi-
‘ence outside Michigan's state prison walls, as a testimony
to the harm caused by prisons, and the spirit of collective
resistance to carceral violence that persists even as things
go "back to normal.”

These essays and letters detail daily suffering and adminis-
trative incompetence as well as the structural impediments
to effective care in the prison system. Although the MDOC.
is a rigidly hierarchical system, the central administration
in Lansing often struggles to standardize implementation
Of its policies across all of its prison facilities. Workplace
culture varies from prison to prison; wardens have greater
cr lesser regard for the rules that supposedly govern them;
and staff may have a broad range of intentions behind their
activities. During the pandemic, some prisoners received
the appropriate cleaning supplies and masks promised
by the state, while others were forced to purchase them
‘on prison wages, and still others couldn't acquire them at
all. Some prisons tried to follow distancing protocols more
closely while others opted to further overcrowd their facil
ities and shut down entire wings, enforcing lockdowns in
ways that left infected people in cramped quarters with
thers who weren't. Meanwhile, despite the governor's di-
rectives against them, prisoner transfers sparked new out-
breaks by introducing infected prisoners to facilities where

Introduction
COVID had not yet begun to spread.

But, as a universal trend, the pandemic empowered
prison administrators to make all sorts of capricious and
harmful decisions at all levels. In some places, mail was
delayed for up to two months due to understaffing as
many prison guards opted to use time off, retire, or quit
‘outright rather than work in pandemic conditions. The
scant offerings of classes and rehabilitative program-
ming at many facilities were simply discarded, causing
2 backlog/slowdown of parole hearings. Prisoners were
denied in-person visits with loved ones, to the profit of
the price-gouging communications contractors who sell
phone, email, and most recently video visitation services
to prisoners. Mobility was further restricted, often with-
‘out rhyme or reason, as lockdowns were required and
prisons had to operate on a skeleton crew staff, with
wardens at times working in prison kitchens just to keep.
things running. Pre-existing environmental problems
like black mold, unclean water, and rotting food were
simply ignored. On top of all of this, the fascist archi-
tecture of the prison makes infection nearly inevitable.
How does one socially distance in a 10x10" room shared
by 8 people?

With cases in Michigan prisons once again rising fast due to
the appearance of the delta variant, itis clear that the pan-
demic is far from over. Overall, the pandemic has clarified
why abolition is necessary: prisons amplify existing social
problems and create new ones instead of solving them.
These accounts of prisoners’ experiences of the pandemic
and struggles for survival and dignity in the face of pre-
mature death document some of the multiple forms that
abolitionist politics can take even inside the prison walls

Each article includes the name and MDOC number of the
author. We encourage you to reach out to authors about
reflections, feedback, solidarity and more. To find the most
updated information on a prisoner’ location, search their
name or number on the OTIS website: https://mdocweb.
state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx

The Pandemic Inside
| WAITED TO SPREAD THIS
INFORMATION...

Eugene Marr #703334
G. Roberts Cotton Correctional Facility

April 4, 2020

There are entirely just too many of us in one place to
even begin to stop the spread of COVID-19. The re-
strooms which each unit has two of have no room at
all inside to be 6ft apart, the JPay machines and tele-
phones that we all have to use are all in closest proximity
to each other, including the area that is provided for us
to eat our meals. Prisoners of older age and others that
are like me with an immune deficiency are at a high risk
and in danger of contracting COVID-19, which is already
inside of the Michigan Department of Corrections. | am
reaching out to the public through all my resources ask-
ing that you all help bring awareness to the lives of us
that are here. We ask you to spread this information so
that something is done. It seems like as more inmates
are catching COVID-19, the rest of us just are sitting
here waiting for it. We understand the concerns of the
public with their safety issues and health issues—as well
we share the same concern. | waited to spread this infor-
mation because of fear from consequences of retaliation
and singling out from the MDOC, but if that is what it
is going to take to bring awareness | will just have to
deal with it.I feel that our health and well-being is more
important than fear of punishment. Thank you for listen-
ing, please, share, tag, repost, etc this information with
everyone.

Sincerely,

Eugene Lee Marr Jr.

The Pandemic Inside
10

ABOLITION

Edward Combs #285318
Chippewa Correctional Facility

April 6, 2020

‘Once again this is Edward Combs #285318 reporting to
you live from Chippewa Correctional Facility in Michi-
‘gan. My comrade Edward Walton #517281 has yet to be
released from segregation and my other comrade Eric
Woods #342158 was recently placed in segregation as
well for "flu-like symptoms” which | personally believe is
the coronavirus.

COVID-19 has spread like wildfire throughout MDOC.
However, the administration has yet to issue masks or
gloves but they're telling the public otherwise. Correc-
tional officers and staff alike are not wearing any protec-
tive equipment yet they go back and forth from society
to the prison on a daily basis. This back and forth move-
ment is putting our (prisoners) lives in imminent danger.
From what I've been told, staff members’ vitals are being
checked prior to them entering the building. However,
unbeknownst to them and us staff can be carrying the vi-
rus without showing any symptoms. Governor Gretchen
Whitmer should mandate all MDOC employees to wear
protective equipment at all times—NO EXCEPTIONS!
COVID-19 does not discriminate, it kills prisoners and
civilians alike, so we must be afforded the protection
‘as those in society or WE SHOULD BE RETURNED TO.
SOCIETY where we can receive the same healthcare as
members of society.

Respectfully,
Edward Combs

#STAYSTRONG
K-UNIT DUBBED “KORONA-UNIT”
AND THE APPROACHING DISASTER
FOR MICHIGAN PRISONERS

Robert Winburn #222196
G. Roberts Cotton Correctional Facility

April 6, 2020

In Michigan, both non-violent and violent offenders are
sentenced to prison, not the death penalty. Thankfully,
on March 30, 2020, Governor Whitmer announced she
is considering early release of low risk and/or vulnerable
prisoners amid the coronavirus. Plainly, in an open dor-
mitory setting with 8 prisoners in each cube originally
designed for 4 occupants, and having approximately
400 prisoners residing in each of these structures, “so-
cial distancing” orders cannot be carried out. Research
shows that prisoners are more likely to report experi-
encing infectious diseases, indicating that prisoners
face a heightened risk during this pandemic. See United
States v Kennedy (2020). We are at a growing risk of a
major crisis in the Michigan Department of Corrections
(“MDOC") by bureaucrats ill-prepared for COVID-19.,

To begin, there is a great deal of concern because
MDOC staff have conveyed to general population pris-
oners that the Center for Disease Control ("CDC") has
supplied the State with over 500 body bags. What the
general public doesn’t know is that after dozens of pris-
oners tested positive for COVID-19 at other facilities,
MDOC Director Heidi Washington approved G. Rob-
ert Cotton Correctional Facility ("JCF") as the official
disaster site for warehousing infected prisoners in a
purported isolation zone. K-Unit, which had previously
been shuttered, was reopened for this purpose and is
now known as "Korona Unit” or the Catacomb of Death
Oddly enough, it is reported that Warden Noah Nagy
volunteered this facility as a containment zone without
any consultation with staff.

‘The Pandemic Inside

11
12

If anything is certain, "Korona-Unit” is a “tidal wave”
that will surely make its way into the general popula-
tion, and foster a microclimate for propagating the virus.
Having prisoners enclosed within a small area is a fertile
ground for a lethal virus, and will only serve to endan-
ger the general public’s health as well as custody staff,
inmates and local residents. Notably, at that same loca-
tion is a mini-city where there are over 1,200 prisoners,
many of whom are in poor health. And its environment
poses a particular threat to the prison system's older in-
mates—and possibly to the outside world,

AAs it happens, medical staff directly interact with both
populations (ie. the sick and unsick). For instance,
since Korona-Unit’s inception, health care personnel
(ve. Health Unity Manager S. Landfair) and other medi-
cal staff freely come and go between the isolation unit,
and the general population Health Care Center. In ad-
dition, some medical equipment is also shared. Thus,
not only is the decision to house infected prisoners in
such close proximity to uninfected prisoners gross neg-
ligence, but it makes infection to the larger population
all but inevitable. Indeed, at present date, MDOC staff
are not being provided with “adequate masks" or pro-
tective equipment. On March 30, 2020, everyone was
issued homemade masks which isa piece of cloth made
from prisoner blues. Staff are told to re-use gloves after
pat-downs due to a shortage created by being starved
‘out by President Trump as a result of animosity between
the President and Governor Whitmer. Incredibly, FOIA
documents (of an internal memorandum) for MDOC.
personnel, reveal that front-line officers are being told
that so long as they don’t have more than 30 minutes
of exposure to an infected prisoner, there is no risk of
spreading the disease.

Hence if one thought the 9/11 Commission and related
compensation packages for frst responders was an im-
portant lesson in human history the ineptitude of bureau-
crats now hiding behind video monitors will be 100 times
worse. The question is not if we will be infected. It is when.

K-Unit Dubbed “Korona-Unit”
Under Michigan Administrative Code 791.716 there is a
nique safety provision providing for the EMERGENCY
RELEASE OF PRISONERS by mandating staff implement
policy, procedure, and practices that direct the release of
prisoners in case of emergency. Freeing up prison space
through the release of parole violators, prisoners with
paroles who are deemed a non-threat to public safety
(such as Robert Winburn #222196), but having stale (i.
3-year old) detainers precluding release to county jails,
will enable the remaining prisoners to be isolated, to
prevent or control an outbreak. We have seen what hap-
pens without this action in prisons overseas; infection
spreads rapidly and foments unrest among prisoners. In
Italy and Colombia, prisoners feared that they faced a
death sentence because of COVID-19 and this resulted
in riots and multiple deaths.

In closing, U.S. Attorney General Barr issued a directive
‘ordering the Bureau of Prisons to “prioritize home con-
finement as appropriate in response to the COVID-19.
pandemic to protect the health and safety of BOP per-
sonnel and the people in our custody." Interestingly,
Michigan already has statutory authority to remedy the
problem. In particular, Administrative Code 791.716
mandates supervisory personnel implement policy, pro-
cedure, and practice that provide guidance for the re-
lease of prisoners in case of emergency. Opening up
prison space through the release of prisoners will enable
the remaining prisoners to be isolated, to prevent or
control an outbreak. Housing infected prisoners at the
same location as uninfected prisoners, and simultane-
‘ously sharing the same medical staff and equipment, is.
a recipe for disaster, and the federal courts have repeat-
‘edly held that exposure to potentially deadly commu-
nicable diseases violates the Eighth Amendment's ban
against cruel and unusual punishment. See, for exam-
ple, Pittman v Kolb (2009) noting Robert Winburn stat-
ed a claim by providing credible facts that established
‘exposure to potentially deadly diseases.

The Pandemic Inside

13
14

SYMPTOMS & SOLITARY

Eric Woods #342158
Chippewa Correctional Facility

April 24, 2020

| asked a guard making a round one night on third shift
for medical attention because | wasn't feeling well and
thought to be experiencing some symptoms of the coro-
navirus. However, the officer refused to call the health
care office. | stated in a non-threatening manner that the
officer shouldn't have this job because he doesn’t know
how to deal with people and even though | was in prison
I still have rights. | guess the c/o instantly became upset
by my comments because he had me placed in solitary
confinement by writing a misconduct stating | threat-
‘ened him with clenched fists and curses to the point he
had to keep distance between he and I to stay safe. This
charge was later proven to be a fabrication via video
review upon my prison court hearing where the court of-
ficer review of the camera from the incident of the night
in question and found that my fists were never clenched,
nor did | actin a manner threatening to the officer. How-
ever, | spent 7 days in solitary confinement before the
hearing and was then released, but placed on 30 days
loss of privileges/top lock in my housing because the
court officer decided to find me guilty of a lesser mis-
conduct that | was never charged with in order to cover
the officer's unethical abuse of power and position.
LACK OF SOCIAL DISTANCING
CAUSES COVID-19 EXPLOSION
IN MICHIGAN’S AGING AND
OVERCROWDED PRISONS:

AN OPEN LETTER

Rand W. Gould C-187131
Kenneth Smith A-212103
Central Michigan Correctional Facility

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
George W. Romney Bldg, P.O. Box 30013,
Lansing, Mi 48909)

Apri 29, 2020

RE: LACK OF SOCIAL DISTANCING CAUSES
COVID-19 EXPLOSION IN MICHIGAN'S AGING
AND OVERCROWDED PRISONS

Dear Gov. Whitmer:

While you've been busy reopening the state for business,
via your MI Safe Start plan, the COVID-19 pandemic is
exploding like a biological time-bomb in Michigan's ag-
ing and overcrowded prisons, with a 50% infection rate
among state prisoners confirmed by recent news broad-
casts. Your current plan to expedite the parole of state
prisoners who are past their earliest release dates will,
at best, only release a thousand prisoners, more or less.
This is a far cry from half of the state's 38,000+ prisoners
that need to be released in order to effectively prac-
tice the bare minimums of social distancing required
to protect prisoners, staff, and the community from the
unnecessary and criminal exposure to COVID-19. Given
the 30 prisons currently operating in Michigan, a good
portion of which are old polebams built as "temporary
facilities,” Michigan's prisons are currently being operat-
ed at double their designed capacity.

The Pendemic Inside

15
16

Fortunately, there are two viable options you, as gover-
Nor, can exercise to alleviate the severely overcrowded
conditions in Michigan's prisons and therefore to put in
place the minimum social distancing protocols to con-
tain the current COVID-19 explosion:

You can use your emergency powers to make across-
the-board 90-day time cuts to prisoners’ sentences.
Governors Milliken and Blanchard did exactly this in the
“80s to alleviate overcrowding, at least before they be-
gan the massive prison building program, continued by
governor Engler, which saddled state taxpayers with our
current bloated and costly ($2 billion per year for the
past two decades) prison system and set the table for
the COVID-19 explosion you're facing now. Additional-
ly, you can work with the state legislature to repeal the
disciplinary time law (so-called “Truth-In-Sentencing”)
and retroactively restore prisoners’ disciplinary cred-
its, thereby reducing sentences by 5-days per month
for good behavior. This option has the added benefit
of eventually saving the state hundreds of millions of
dollars, because, even after the COVID-19 pandemic is
‘over, many more prisons could be closed for good. Or.

You could reopen the state's many closed prisons and
transfer prisoners into them. This would also alleviate
the overcrowding due to operating the state's prisons
at double their designed capacity and it would enable
prison administrators to institute genuine minimum so-
ial distancing protocols, as opposed to sham protocols.
currently in place. However, bringing these old prisons
on-line and up-to-code, as well as hiring the new em-
ployees to operate them, would cost the state's tax-pay-
fers several hundred millions of dollars.

Consequently, we both suggest you implement op-
tion #1, immediately! Lives are at stake, including ours!
We're both past our earliest release dates (Gould's was
in May 2019; Smith's would be in October 2018, with the
restoration of earned disciplinary credits), so your expe-
diated parole process didn’t help us, as we're still here

Lack of Social Distancing
at Central Michigan Correctional Facility, crammed like
sardines into 8-man cubes, with less than 8 square feet
of unencumbered floor space per person, in 8 old cattle-
barns housing 320 men each, for a total of 2,560 Level
1 prisoners, all of whom could be, and should be, re-
leased to parole, and none of whom should have to risk
death in prison from COVID-19 as part of their sentence.
Please note, our 8 square feet of floor space is 3 times
less than the 25 square feet of floor space required for
great apes by the Improved Standards for Laboratory
Animals Act of 1985.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this life and
death matter.

Sincerely,
Rand Gould
Kenneth Smith

‘Cc: Dana Nessell
Michigan Legislators
Public

The Pandemic Inside

17

OPEN LETTERS

Jamie Meade #232516
Macomb Correctional Facility

June 14, 2020

Dear Director Heidi Washington and Deputy Director
Ken McKee:

According to a June 9, 2020 article in the Detroit Free
Press, MDOC legislative liaison Kyle Kaminski testified
in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Corrections that the MDOC was ranked number 1 in
the nation in May on prisoner COVID-19 infections and
deaths. This is very alarming and raises the question:
What are other states doing that prison officials in Mich-
igan are not? Here are some concerns | have with the
decisions still being made by prison staff at the Macomb
Correctional Facility that I'm pretty sure other states are
not making. | pray you will decide to intervene at Ma-
comb and require prison staff to follow CDC guidelines
for prisons.

After the June 2, 2020 blunder of misreading COVID-19
tests resulted in placing prisoners who were negative in
cells with prisoners who tested positive for the virus, the
incompetent decision making at the Macomb prison has
continued with no regard for the health of prisoners nor
fear of discipline by your office

Prison staff at the Macomb prison have been moving
prisoners, who are housed in the COVID-19 unit in a
cell with someone positive, directly into a general pop-
ulation cell without providing them clean bedding and
clothing or disinfecting their property. This bedding,
clothing, and property contains the COVID-19 virus.
This puts all prisoners, especially the one in the cell they
are moving into, in jeopardy of contracting the virus.

The Pandemic Inside

19
20

Macomb prison staff have decided to reduce the avail-
ability of bleach for cleaning. Instead, prison staff are
providing a new cleaning product. Macomb prison has
a COVID-19 housing unit. Using a cleaning agent that
requires a 10 minute activation time is not adequate to
prevent the spread of COVID-19. Also, prison staff are
not supplying soap on a regular basis.

Prison staff should be required tobe tested for COVID-19
to prevent the spread. One prison staff said he would
not take the test because if he was positive he could
not come to work and collect the hazard pay. In order
to stop the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, prison staff
must be tested to stop those who are positive from con-
tinuously bringing the virus into the facility

Macomb prison staff are still violating social distancing
by patting prisoners down and shaking down cells. Most
of the time they do not change their gloves, and when
asked to do so, they become belligerent, blaming pris-
foners for the virus outbreak.

‘On June 12, 2020, Macomb prison staff attempted to
move 34 prisoners from the gym and schoo! building to
the COVID-19 unit for housing. Those prisoners refused
in fear of their health and safety. Again, an incompetent
decision by Macomb prison staff to put prisoners’ lives
in danger and to perpetuate the spread of the virus.



Another very serious issue that needs to be addressed
is forced housing. Macomb has a Residential Treatment
Program housing unit for mental health. Prisoners who
are outpatient mental health are housed in general pop-
Ulation. Macomb also has a large population of younger
prisoners. Both outpatient and younger prisoners have
no regard for social distancing or washing their hands. |
have a heart murmur. Being exposed to this virus again
‘can put serious stress on my heart. | have a family history
of heart disease. I've already developed a serious cough
from being exposed to the virus once.

Open Letters
In addition, prisoners who have tested positive for
COVID-19 and who are housed in the COVID-19 unit
are only allowed to shower 3 times a week, are only giv-
en 30 minutes outside, are limited phone calls and abil-
ity to clean cells, and are not allowed to use JPay nor
have fans in their cells.

My previous email to you went unanswered. I hope you
will address this one.

Sincerely,

Jaime Meade #232516
Macomb Correctional Facility
34625 26 Mile Ra.

Lenox Township, MI 48048

Dear Representative Thomas A. Albert:

I'm writing you regarding MDOC legislative liaison Kyle
Kaminski’ testimony in front of the House Appropria-
tions Subcommittee on Corrections last week. There is
a serious problem when Michigan's prison system leads
the country in infection and deaths. This is very alarm-
ing and raises the question: What are other states doing
that prison officials in Michigan are not?

I'm incarcerated at the Macomb Correctional Facility. | was
exposed to COVID-19. | have a heart murmur and family
history of heart disease. Since exposed I've developed a se-
vere cough that health care refuses to address because of
the State of Emergency. | do not want to die from COVID-19
in prison. 'm scared and asking you to please help me.

Many incompetent decisions are being made by prison
staff at Macomb. On June 2, 2020, prison staff misread 108
COVID-19 nasal swab test results placing 54 negative pris-
ners in the COVID-19 housing unit in cells with positive
prisoners.

‘The Pandemic Inside

21
22

COVID-19 spread rampantly through the prisoner pop-
ulation at Macomb. Instead of isolating those infected,
prison staff moved prisoners unit-to-unit increasing the
spread of the virus.

‘On May 11, 2020, the prison population was threatened
and forced to give blood to the National Guard under
the guise of antibody testing. Blood went to Wayne State
University for research. 788 prisoners had COVID-19 an-
tibodies. That is a 70 percent infection rate. Threatening
prisoners to participate in research is illegal. I'm asking
your Subcommittee on Corrections to initiate an investi-
{gation into this conduct.

Itis alarming that prison staff are not being required to
be tested for COVID-19. One prison staff member that
works in Housing Unit 1 stated he would not consent to
testing because he is afraid he may test positive and not
be allowed to come to work and collect the hazard pay.
Prison staff are the source of COVID-19 entering the
prison. How can the spread of COVID-19 be stopped in
prison when prison staff are not required to be tested?

| do not know if | can survive another wave of COVID-19
‘sweeping through prison. | do not want to die. | am
asking the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Corrections to take action by initiating an investigation
into MDOC Director Heidi Washington's response to
COVID-19 at the Macomb Correctional Facility. Many
decisions were made that appear to contribute to the
spread instead of preventing it.

Sincerely,
Jamie Meade (MDOC ID No. 232516)
Macomb Correctional Facility

34625 26 Mile Rd.
Lenox Township, Ml 48048

Open Letters
WHO IS THE REAL KILLER?

Christopher Clark/Chris X #511663
Thumb Correctional Facility

August 3, 2020

COVID-19 attacked the MDOC's inmates in early March.
Butit wasn't COVID that attacked the inmates, it was cal-
lous staff members who arrived to work every day know-
ing full and well that there's a deadly pandemic ravaging
the State. With staff having more exposure to the virus,
you'd think that they'd be more considerate of the fact
that they have the potential of bringing the deadly virus
inside the prison. How can inmates escape that? That's
the million-dollar question. There's no escaping. Social
distancing is not applicable in prison when you have
selfish people who are motivated by a check, but are
not required to be checked; unless done so voluntarily.
What sense does that make! Inmates cannot bring the
virus in. And we can't blame this on visitation either, be-
cause visits were terminated approximately six months
ago, and most recently the virus had ceased spread-
ing. According to MDOC’s testing, results, and reports
during the week of 07/17/20, then the following week
cof 07/25/20 there were no positive cases within the en-
tire MDOC. On 07/23/20 it was reported that 10 staff
members tested positive for the COVID-19 virus; no in-
mates though. Then on 07/30/20 ten inmates somehow
showed up positive for the virus and it’s re-flaring. Now
keep in mind that visits ceased six months ago. Now you
do the math. Who's endangering who? I'm not saying
that all staff had malicious intent, but when you have
no regard for human life and choose to come to work
‘every day knowing that you're sick or may have been
in contact with the virus, what kind of intent is that? We
were punished because of someone else's doing. Hav-
ing to be locked down, placed in isolation, property de-
stroyed, and most importantly being subjected to hav-
ing to contract and, God willing, suppress this deadly
virus with no immediate or long term complications.

The Pandemic Inside

23
24

| was positive in April but the actual test results came in
May. it was the scariest days of my life. | grew up in the
middle of Detroit in a small city called Highland Park
and it wasn't at all a park. I've seen and did things that
I'm not proud of. Guns drawn and pointed in my face
some went off some didn't. | was sentenced to natu-
ral life for murder. Still those things didn’t compare to
my COVID-19 experiences. Waking up with a gold glow
‘over my body and vibration lines radiating from the gold
glow—I was hallucinating from me not having enough
‘oxygen to my brain. 1:47 a.m. | got up and told myself
‘over and over: I'm not going to die in prison. The glow
and vibration lines disappeared once | got out the bunk
and walked around the unit getting my breathing under
control. | once didn’t go back to sleep because | was
scared | was going to die. | fought it for as long as |
could. | lost my taste and smell, had continuous bowel
movements, loss of appetite, cold chills, dizziness, nau-
‘sea, and shortness of breath.

We lost @ couple guys at this facility, one in particular
| used to converse with on the regular. His name was
Sanders-Bey. By him being an elder I was always on his
back about exercising but he would never go, sol would
playfully bust him upside the head and take off running
to try and get him to chase me. It worked a couple of
times but as time went on he would just curse me out
and say, “you'll be my age one day.” We lost that broth-
fer to COVID-19. I can‘t believe that he's actually gone.

We are trapped inside a cesspool of sick individuals. We
can't determine if we're going to live or die because of
another person's greed or ignorance. Our lives are basi-
cally in someone else's hand, and that hand may be the
hand that writes you direct order citations, or put hand-
cuffs on you escorting you to segregation, or aiming a
taser at you, or the hand that shakes you down passing
you the COVID-19 virus. As you can see none of these
were helping hands.

Who ie the Real Killer?
We committed crimes, some more heinous than others,
but that doesn’t negate the fact that we have a right
to be treated humanely and in most cases deserve a
chance to live and make it home to our loved ones. |
say most and not all because I'm speaking realistically.
The truth is there are some beautiful people incarcerat-
ed behind these walls, but you also have the evil lurking
inside as well.

These are the things that needs to be addressed to so-
<iety. In prison, is it COVID that’s killing and harming us,
or isit the staff?

Christopher Clark/Chris X

The Pandemic Inside

25
26

48 HOURS OF PANIC DAMMIT
(PANDEMIC)

Jermond Perry #427193
Muskegon Correctional Facility

August 3, 2020

COVID-19, no doubt, has ravaged the United States,
and Michigan has been hit hard. So, what does that say
about its prisoners and what they have to look forward
10? Majority of them have served time past their earliest
release date (ERD), many are elderly and sick with health
ailments, etc. And, because MDOC is second per capi-
ta when it comes to the fatality rate due to coronavirus,
most of these guys I know have already been preparing
their will. One of the most disturbing things is, many of
them have out dates, some as short as months which now
feels lke a life sentence to them. But here's something
just as disturbing: a facility that had no positive cases
changed overnight. Now, I'm not saying that Muskegon
Correctional Facility (MCF) was exempt from coronavirus,
but willful neglect and carelessness of the warden and
her administration made it much easier for the virus to
‘enter into the facility. Sherry L. Burt, MCF warden, de-
cided to accept transferred inmates from a facility with
known cases and received medical run patients, and
chose not to quarantine the incoming inmates for at least
114 days as required by the CDC, WHO, and other health
care officials. Unfortunately for us, she withheld a positive
result, refusing to notify the population for 48 hours that
the deadly virus was now active here at MCF.

‘On July 25, 2020, COVID-19 found its way into MCF,
which houses some nearly 1600 prisoners (give or take,
could be more, could be less). We didn’t find out un-
til July 27, 2020, 48 hours later about the deadly virus.
‘And although our crimes and sentences may vary, no one
throughout the Michigan Department of Corrections was,
sentenced to death.
Every day, the local news reports thousands of deaths in
‘a mere 48 hours. So, | don’t have to explain to you how
fast this virus can spread and kill. | think we all know,
hence the title, Pandemic (Panic Dammit). Not only has
Warden Burt allowed various areas of the facility to pos-
sibly become contaminated with COVID because of her
willful neglect and carelessness to implement quarantine
safety measures, but she has gone as far as making a
decision to place bunks in unit dayrooms to house even
more prisoners making social distancing impossible, as
ifit isn't already dificult in a place like this, thus exceed-
ing the capacity space. It has gotten to the point that
her own officers no longer believe she's fit for duty, but
‘as Shakespeare goes, "Thus, conscience makes cowards
of us all," and they're not willing to put it in writing.



‘On July 29, 2020, several prisoners protested the way
MCF administration has been handling the coronavi
rus here at this facility by walking out of their unit and
peacefully standing together. On July 30, 2020, an up-
fising took place and prisoners refused to lock down
during formal count. ERT was called and they arrived
suited up with their shields and pepper spray and shot-
‘guns with rubber bullets looking like the front page of
‘every newspaper in the nation right now. They sounded.
the alarm (emergency count) and every administrative
official and officer responded. Now we've been on lock-
down for 48 hours and counting. No showers, chow is
being brought to the unit, meds are being brought to
the unit, etc. There has been no movement in or out of
‘our unit as the rest of the facility operates as if our unit is.
‘on foreign soil. The strangest thing is, being that we're
now isolated from everyone else, we may be in the saf-
‘est position, for now.

MCF's entire population has been tested before and by
the grace of God, all tests were negative. Since the July
25th positive result, we're all waiting to be tested again.
There have been several positive results coming back
from people who have been tested, and the numbers
are on the rise.

The Pandemic Inside

27
28

St. Augustine stated, “An unjust law is no law at all. Peo
ple have the right to resist through violence or civil dis-
‘obedience." Meaning, it doesn’t matter whether you're
a prisoner or a civilian, the people will be violent or dis-
‘obedient to preserve their lives. It's called nature and its
first law is self-preservation. If you have a problem with
that, in the words of Mozy, “Take it up with God.” Ain't
nobody trying to get buried on the hill. At the end of
the day, the people just want to live and make it home
to their families and loved ones. Is that too much to ask
for?

48 Hours of Panic Dammit
RELEASING PRISONERS IS GOOD
PUBLIC HEALTH

Charles Payton #571203
Chippewa Correctional Facility

August 11, 2020

Social distance and hygiene measures are prisoners’ only
defense against COVID-19, but those measures are phys-
ically impossible in prison settings, especially with the
overcrowding crisis. The only way to decrease the spread
of COVID-19 in prisons is to decrease the prison pop-
ulation itself. Other countries have reduced their prison
populations in order to reduce the spread of this dead-
ly virus. The government of Turkey released over 45,000
prisoners. The government of Indonesia released over
30,0000 prisoners. The government of Iran released over
85,000 prisoners. If these countries, that are looked at
as less than by the United Snakes of Amerikkka, can use
such measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and
its actually working, then why is it that Amerikkka, which
has more prisoners than any other country, finds it hard
to follow suit in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19?

What they never tell the people is that, when they do ac-
tually close the prisons, the prisoners that were housed
at the closed plantations were shipped off to another
plantation, to be stacked on top of other slaves. This is
what started the overcrowding of prisons in Michigan.
Its to the point that the DOKKK is the only business in
Michigan, and the country at large, that's allowed to
operate and fills buildings to a point of violating city
and county ordinances, laws, and regulations, in regard
to the capacity that houses, buildings, and apartments
are allowed to legally hold per square foot. In fact, the
MDOKKK’s prison population far exceeds their facili-
ties’ capacity. Prisoners housed in buildings that were
designed for only one person per cell per Ordinance
Laws & Regulations, are now being forced to lock in

The Pandemic Inside

29
30

those same cells with two people. Prisoners housed in
buildings with cubes that were meant to only hold 4 peo-
ple per cube, are now locked in those same cubes with 8
people. And the list goes on. Way past the capacity limits
with no sanctions imposed on them for such, as is the
case with other businesses operating within the United
Snakes of Amerikkka. Even with the inspections imposed
‘on them by the government, the inspectors come inside
the corruption facilities and check them off as being with-
in compliance with the building Codes, Laws, Ordinances
and Regulations.

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC?

The overcrowding of prisons across the country has led
to prisons becoming an incubator system that breeds the
spreading of COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control
[CDC] has confirmed that there is no cure for COVID-19
at this present time, and that as of right now, the only
way to combat the virus is to avoid catching it, and by so-
cial distancing, staying clean, wearing protective clothing
when out in public, as well as staying away from group
settings.

The courts stated in Cameron v. Bouchard (2020)
that “Currently, there is no vaccine to protect against
COVID-19. To prevent infection and mitigate the spread
of the virus, the CDC and other public health agencies
universally recommended social distancing (i.e. remain-
ing at least six feet from every other person), not gather-
jing in groups, staying out of crowded places and avoid-
jing mass gatherings, wearing a face cover, and rigorous
hygiene—includiing regular and thorough handwashing
with soap and water, the use of alcohol based hand san-
itizer, proper sneeze and cough etiquette, and frequent
cleaning of all surfaces.

COVID-19 is more easily transmitted within communal
living and densely packed environments, such as jail facil-

Good Public Health
ities and nursing homes. This is a significant reason why
individuals within these environments are at a particularly
high risk of contracting COVID-19. Shared dining halls,
bathrooms, showers, and other common areas, as well
asa lack of necessary medical and hygiene supplies, cat-
alyzes the rapid spread of infectious diseases among jail
inmates. Spaces within jails are poorly ventilated, fueling
more of the same. Incarcerated individuals also are more
likely than members of the general public to have the
chronic underlying health problems that cause greater
risk of infection. Staff, visitors, contractors, vendors, and
rapid turnover of the prison population means that peo-
ple often cycle between facilities and communities.”

The greed of the MDOKKK has caused them
to fill the prisons to the point of it becom-
ing overcrowded which ended up setting up
prisoners and prison staff to be two of the most at risk
populations from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspa-
per Volume 45, number 5, May 2020, Rev. Jesse Jackson
states: “Across the United States and across the world,
prisoners are among the most vulnerable to the corona-
Virus. Overcrowded facilites, shortages of medicine, and
totally inadequate testing, expose prisoners who are dis-
proportionately poor and afflicted with prior conditions
that render them vulnerable to the disease.”

He further states: “Experts across the world are urging
governments to reduce their prison population swiftly.”
Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations high commissioner
for human rights, wamed, “the consequences of neglect-
ing [overcrowded conditions] are potentially catastrophic.”

Even if the government has an “F prisoners” mentality,
then they should at least have concem for the correction-
al officers across the country. The following cases reveal
how real the COVID-19 threat is in regards to correc-
tions officers.

The Pandemic Inside

31
32

4.The court in Hernandez v. Kolitwenzw (2020) revealed that
185 correctional officers tested positive for COVID-19, with 2
‘officers dying at Cook County, Jerome Combs Detention Fa-
Gilty, Kankakee, linois.

2. The court in Derron B. v. Tsoukaris (2020) revealed 24 cor-
rections officers and 4 nurses tested positive for COVID-19 at
ICE Hudson County Correctional facility (HCCC), Kearny, New
Jersey.

13. The court in Asmed B. v. Becker (2020) revealed that 24
corrections officers, 6 sheriff and 4 nurses tested positive for
COVID-19 at Bergen County Jal, Hackensack, New Jersey.

‘4, The court in United States v. Salley (2020) revealed that one
staff member died at Ohio Marion Correctional Facility; April
28, 2020

5. In Michigan so far 374 corrections officers tested positive
for COVID-19, with 2 deaths

6. The court in Matias v. United States Dept. of Homeland Se-
curity (2020), revealed that according to the Declaration from
Ron Edwards, the director of HCCC, 97 members of the cor-
rectional staff tested positive for COVID-19,

7. The court in Swain v. Junior (2020) revealed that 16 staff
tested positive for COVID-19 at Metro West Detention Center
in Florida,

18. The court in Rafael L.O. v. Tsoukaris (2020) revealed that 10,
staff and 1 nurse tested positive for COVID-19 at Essex County
Correctional facility in New Jersey.

9. The court in Ruderman v. Kolitwenzew (2020) revealed that
at least 300 correctional officers tested positive for COVID-19
‘at Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois.

10. The court in Jose v. Tsoukaris (2020) as of May 11, 2020,
revealed that 84 correctional officers, and 4 civilian staff tested
positive for COVID-19.

Good Public Health
It must be made clear that the correctional officers that
tested positive for COVID-19 are returning to their re-
spective communities and coming into contact with their
family, friends, and local businesses (e.g. schools, stores,
gyms, malls, and the list goes on), as is the case for Chip-
Pewa correctional officers. Most of these officers stay in
neighboring cities and counties and this is a major prob-
lem for the communities at large that are constantly com-
ing into contact with corrections staff that is entering pris-
ons that have prisoners that tested positive for COVID-19
and returning to the general public from prisons that have
been infected with the plague of COVID-19.

It should be noted that the prison is an isolated place, so
the disease that plagues communities outside of prisons
can only come into prison if its brought into the prisons
by staff or visitors. But once a disease like COVID-19
(which is untreatable right now) enters a prison it is going
to spread like wildfire, which will include having asymp-
tomatic corrections staff and prisoners walking around
spreading COVID-19 while showing no sign of having the
disease

There is a deliberate ignorance among corrections of
ficers in regards to spreading and catching COVID-19.
They seem to think that they can only catch COVID-19.
from prisoners, while allowing each other to come to
work showing clear signs of having COVID-19 and al-
lowing these officers to interact with the prisoners by
searching their persons, cells, and property, and often
time this is done without protective gloves and masks, or
they'll search multiple prisoners without changing gloves,
knowing that the disease can live on a surface for hours,
possibly days according to medical experts.

HOW DO WE FIX THIS?
Corrections administrations (from the top down) across

the country need to take the proper steps to ensure that
their staff is secured health wise, and make it punishable

The Pandemic Inside

33
34

for those who think that COVID-19 can only be caught
from prisoners and use that as an excuse not to take pro-
tective steps, i.e. wearing masks and gloves at all times,
and making violations of such measures a crime punish-
able by prison if caught putting staff and prisoners life at
risk

Make all prison administrations separate the medically
vulnerable from the healthy prisoners, so that if an out-
break takes place they can be aided in ways to protect
their health

Decrease the prison population, by making room for
social distance, by releasing prisoners from prison, via
placing them on parole, or assisting them in getting an
‘emergency sentencing deduction that will put them in a
position to receive parole.

For the prison population that remains, decrease the
‘overcrowdedness by disallowing the two persons locked
in single man cells, and all the other cell overcrowded-
ness that they have allowed to take place, even if that
means reopening the prisons (that are suitable for hu-
mane living) that have been closed, and ensure that they
are not stuffed past their capacity limits as has happened
in most prisons nowadays.

‘The corrections staff need to stand by these measures as
well.

1 Love, Many Lives, 1 Nation, 1 Struggle.

Good Public Health
BODY SNATCHERS

Jermond Perry #427193
Muskegon Correctional Facility

August 31, 2020

I have always wondered what goes through one’s mind
when you're snatched up, not knowing where you're
going, not knowing what's going to happen to you or if
you're ever going to be able to talk to a loved one any-
time soon. With corona being the case, you gotta won-
der if you're ever going to see that one love again or will
they see you. That sense of uncertainty can be frustrating
and scary in most cases, but definitely mind-boggling
and leaves room for a hell of a testimony if you make it
through.

have been in prison for 17 years now, and | thought be-
ing at URF (also known as “Chippewa Correctional Fa-
cility,” a prison in Michigan's Upper Peninsula) was the
worst part of my bid. | went through a lot at URF. I felt
that my faith had been tried and tested to the fullest and
if | could withstand all that | went through there with all
the administration threw at me by discriminating against
me, harassing me, classifying me as a security threat, etc.,
know | could withstand anything. In that time | turned
to a religious practice | identify as Radehood, and my
God saw me through it all and kept me together mentally
during a time most in my situation would have crumbled.
I'm stil here!

Now that I'm no longer at URF, | look at the silver lin-
ing of it all and as the adage goes, “Circumstances don't
make you, it reveals you unto yourself.” | honestly believe
all | had went through mentally at URF, it was preparing
me for something else, something to come that | would
have to deal with. Now that I'm at MCF (Muskegon Cor-
rectional Facility) during an outbreak of coronavirus, I've
watched bodies get snatched up almost every night after
testing three or four days prior, and there is a lot of uncer

The Pandemic Inside

35
36

tainty. Like the days of old during slavery, guys are literally
being snatched up and being taken. Some being taken
to “outbreak” units, being taken to makeshift designated
areas, like intake and the gymnasium and school build-
ing. Some being taken to classrooms and elsewhere. Af-
ter literally seeing officers lose their mind, break down,
throw clip boards, walk out of their designated units they
were assigned to, pleading for calmness and serenity. Af-
ter watching nurses panic, frustrated, and yell and damn
near in tears. After listening to authority like the warden,
deputy warden, inspectors, RUMs and ARUSs, mislead,
and lie, and look confused, and act in accordance to that
confusion. One would first have to take a minute and
breathe, and then be beyond strong mentally. | under-
stand its not easy to do, but that's when you rely on faith.
You can't rest on action without faith, nor faith without
action. They go hand-in-hand.



To the MCF administration (The Body Snatchers), to be
negligent, reckless, and carelessin the midst of COVID-19
is one thing. But to jeopardize the lives of thousands of
human beings, regardless of their crimes and convictions
because of that behavior during this pandemic is a whole
‘ther thing. It is no different than an act of attempted
murder. God forbid if someone dies because of your be-
havior. That death sentence was delivered and carried
cout by you

Is that something you can live with?

'm not sure where things go from here. I've heard the
saying “It'll get worse before it gets better.” I'm not sure
when the Body Snatchers will show up at my door and I'm
not sure I'll see my family again. Imagine that. One thing
Ido know is, “When God succors, the triumph comes.”
Take care, family.

Jermond Perry aka GodSun

RID To oun Beloved brother Jordon fhe tose his
lite to Cuadd 9 nt Meh: Dar Love (iota) Gok but to your
Famidy

Aa
COVID-19 MAKES THE VIOLENCE
OF PRISONS MORE OBVIOUS

Bruce X Parker
Macomb Correctional Facility

November 28, 2020

In Peace. As usual this article is meant to enlighten and
hopefully help someone caught up in this beast we call
the prison industrial complex. | use industrial because
black and brown bodies are being peddled, traded in
‘America’s prison economy like cows or pigs from one
farm to the next, then finally to the slaughter house
through state sponsored violence dressed up in the ra-
cial rhetoric of law and order.

Pay attention when folks use words such as law and or
der because violence is sure to follow in the contem-
plated policies that “they” are laying the groundwork
for before duping the masses of unconscious consum-
ers. Be careful of what you allow to be shoved down
your throat. Destruction nowadays doesn't require phys-
ical contact but rather a few minutes of our time and a
catchy gimmick. FYI: This is a slick-tongued and accept-
anything-that-sounds-good generation.

Entertaining illogical and bad information causes us to
malfunction and destroy ourselves from within. So | offer
one remedy out of the many to protect and prevent us
from becoming proverbial pigs swallowing everything
that sounds good to the ear but isn’t good when ap-
plied. Study and look into what's been vomited on you.
Remember half-truths and falsehoods come in many
forms and through many people. First things first and
last things last.

Now this brings me to my subject matter: the mask of
civility worn by the keepers/captors is being removed.

The peddlers of the term law and order are nothing but

The Pandemic Inside

37
38

abusers and veiled racists. The term law and order is
nothing but race based rhetoric recycled from the old
Ronald Reagan election days meaning “harass, target
and lock up black and brown bodies.”

It was said that prison is to protect the public and reha-
bilitate and reform the alleged violator. Sorry but this is
the farthest from the truth. COVID has really unmasked
the cruelty and inhumanity of our keeps/captors and
their mistreatment and indifference to the lives of the
“kept” and vulnerable population.

Since the pandemic, I've observed prisoners denied
humane treatment or not given treatment at all. I've
watched Warden Chapman, Deputy Warden Stephan-
son and Doctors Kim Farris, Nurse Practitioner Juliano
Martino minimize or blatantly lie or misrepresent the
condition of sick and dying prisoners. The responses
have been deplorable. So our civil servants have be-
‘come our vietimizer and executioner and the law sanc-
tions it.

Now what's even more hurtful is our keepers or those in
control are profiting off of our (prisoners) suffering. Of-
ficers who work for MDOC are receiving an additional
$700 on each paycheck due to prisoners being infected
with COVID. This means officers and administrators have
a $700 incentive to not implement measures that would
protect and prevent prisoners from coming into contact
with or being infected with COVID.

‘Ask yourself who profits off of the suffering of not only
‘other people but also vulnerable people besides de-
praved devils? Now when I say devil, I don't mean a spirit,
because the hell we're receiving is from flesh and blood
bodies and the policies they implement.

In conclusion, the system must be challenged via lawsuits,
mass organization, economic boycotts, establishing black
and brown businesses so the change can start with us.

COVID-19 Makes Violence
CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS RESORT
BACK TO WAREHOUSING UNDER
GUISE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Jamie Meade
Macomb Correctional Facility

March 28, 2021

After Robert Martinson‘s influential 1974 essay “What
Works: Questions and Answers about Prison Reform”
was published, the “Nothing Works” era ushered in
“warehousing” prisoners in prisons across the country.
The prison population started to climb in the United
States reaching an alarming 2 million, putting the US
first in the world in incarcerating its citizens. Michigan's
prison population also reached a high of just over 50
thousand. The politicians’ tough-on-crime and lock-
‘em-up-and-throw-away-the-key approach, along with
the Parole Board's life-means-life policy of the early 90s,
fueled “warehousing” and mass incarceration in Michi-
gan.



With Congress passing the 1994 Crime Bill, college pro-
grams were eliminated throughout Michigan's prison
system. Corrections officials implemented "warehous-
ing” policies restricting prisoners from participating in
educational, vocational, and rehabilitation program-
ming unless they were within a few years of their Ear-
liest Release Date (ERD). Lifers and long-indeterminate
sentenced prisoners were prohibited from participating
in programs and merely “warehoused.”

In the mid-2000s, influenced by the racial injustice and
social justice arguments, the criminal justice pendulum
started to swing back towards rehabilitating offenders
instead of “warehousing” them. Social justice advocates
called for the end to the mass incarceration era.

The Pandemic Inside

39
40

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Macomb
Correctional Facility (MRF), slowly spreading throughout
the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). All
programming at MRF and around the state was can-
celled. In the fall of 2020, mandatory MDOC program-
ming resumed at MRF only to be stopped, again, due
to another COVID-19 outbreak. In March 2021, only
mandatory MDOC programming resumed at MRF for
those prisoners within months of their ERDs. No other
programming has been allowed to start for prisoners
with life or long-indeterminate sentences.

‘On March 23, 2021, the MRF population was given
the opportunity to receive the Johnson and Johnson
COVID-19 vaccine. Between 50 to 60 percent of the
prisoner population chose to take the vaccine, while
‘only 30 to 40 percent of the prison staff took the vac-
cine.

With just over 50 percent of prisoners and staff com-
bined taking the vaccine, the only change in opera-
tions at MRF was the start of in-person visitation behind
plexiglass on March 26. No GED classes, no college
lasses, no vocational classes, no law library, no AA/NA
meetings, and no self-help rehabilitation classes have
‘opened for the prisoner population. The school build-
ing has remained closed. Prisoners cannot use the gym,
weight pit, or pull-up bars. Outside recreation has been
‘extended an hour and 20 minutes, 3 days per week be-
cause of daylight savings.

With vaccines being administered at MRF and with MRF
failing to return to any semblence of normalcy, it ap-
pears corrections officials have resorted back to “ware-
housing” prisoners under the guise of the COVID-19
pandemic.
APPENDIX


















Total Total — | Total Death
Positive |covio | Rate (per | Rate (per
Tested | cases _| Deaths _| 10,000) _| 10,000)
mooc [43221 [26733 [143 7008 37
United States 1189, ”







Asthe table shows, prisoners in MDOC facilities are much
more vulnerable to infection and death from COVID-19
than the US population in general. Specifically, Michi-
gan prisoners are about seven times more likely to be
infected and about twice as likely to die from COVID-19.
‘The data in the table comes from the MDOC, the UCLA,
Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, and the CDC,
and was accessed on September 3, 2021. One limita-
tion of the data collected by the MDOC is that it lacks
a timeline of infections and deaths, so it is hard to track
the progression of the disease. We know, however, that
cases exploded in MDOC facilities early on in the pan-
demic, and by May 2020 the Detroit Free Press reported
that Michigan ranked highest in the country for prisoner
deaths from COVID-19.

https /madium.com/@MichiganDOC/mdoc-takes-stepe-to-prevent
spread.of coronavirus-covid-19-25043 144337
https://uclacovidbehindbars.org/states/michigan
https//covid.ede.gow/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesper100k

The Pandemic Inside


MAP OF MDOC FACILITIES

























































42 The Pandemic Inside