I noticed she no longer states that MDOC is following CDC guidelines. And as we all know, there is no social distancing in prison.
They aren’t following the rest of it either.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) response to COVID-19. On March 10, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services identified the first two presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. On that same day, I acted quickly and took decisive action to protect Michiganders from the spread of COVID-19. Keeping MDOC staff and those in its custody safe has been a key component of my administration’s fight against COVID-19.
From the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, Michigan has led the nation in testing for COVID-19 among those incarcerated. Every person currently incarcerated in an MDOC facility has been tested for COVID-19. MDOC staff is also required to be tested at facilities that have had positive cases in the last fourteen days. In total, the MDOC has distributed tens of thousands of COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began. Moving forward, MDOC will continue to be a leader on proactive testing; mass testing will continue to be utilized to contact trace and make sure COVID-19 is contained in Michigan prisons. To ensure this happens, I am working with local jails to ensure that COVID-19 tests are administered to all incarcerated persons before being admitted to prison, transferred or released from prison from prison. Additionally, my administration is providing support on testing to county jails to ensure we maintain the highest level of safety possible throughout the criminal justice system. Testing is one of the MDOC’s most effective weapons against this virus and will continue to be utilized to keep incarcerated Michiganders and MDOC staff and their families safe.
We know that when Michiganders mask up, we make everyone safer. That is why MDOC has been hard at work, ensuring personal protective equipment (PPE) is widely available to staff and those in prison. Each person incarcerated in the state of Michigan has received six cloth masks that can be laundered and reused. Masks are to be worn at all times except when those in prison are eating, sleeping, or showering. Staff have also been issued washable cloth masks and are permitted to bring a mask to work and must wear it for their entire shift. Where necessary, staff have additional PPE, such as face shields, KN 95 masks, and gloves. Social distancing measures have also been put into place; class sizes have been limited, gathering in groups is discouraged, and activities such as weightlifting and basketball have been suspended.
Keeping people safe often means making difficult decisions and suspending visitations at MDOC facilities was one of them. This was a difficult but necessary safety precaution that made sure MDOC staff and those incarcerated were kept as safe as possible. While in-person visits are still not permitted during this pandemic, the MDOC has begun a pilot program for video visitations at select facilities to allow for those in prison to communicate with loved ones with the intent of expanding the program statewide. While safety is paramount, enabling more frequent contact for those incarcerated with their loved ones is crucial to their success and rehabilitation during and after incarceration. The MDOC is committed to making sure incarcerated persons can maintain their support systems while serving their sentences. Additional updates will become available soon, and those who are interested can stay up to date here: https://medium.com/…/mdoc-takes-steps-to-prevent-spread…
Again, thank you for taking the time to reach out. The work MDOC has done to fight the spread of COVID-19 demonstrates that when we get tested, mask up, and stay socially distant, we can keep Michiganders safe. As governor, I will continue to do all I can to ensure the health and safety of the people of our state. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (517) 335-7858, should you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan