by Scott McClallen
A Michigan lawmaker wants Auditor General Doug Ringler to investigate state prison staffing practices.
Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, sent a letter to Ringler requesting a review of staffing shortages and alleged violations of federal and state labor regulations within the Michigan Department of Corrections. The MDOC has more than 13,000-full time positions as of fiscal year 2023.
Lightner represents Jackson County, home to several state prisons and a large population of corrections employees.
“Over the past several months, I have received very concerning reports from corrections employees about critically low staffing levels and other issues that seem to violate state and federal labor laws,” Lightner said in a statement. “I am deeply concerned about the well-being of our state employees. These claims must be investigated.”
Lightner asked Ringler to investigate claims including:
- Short staffing: Employees from multiple prisons have reported that staffing levels have reached critical lows, resulting in safety risks for both the inmates and staff members. This shortage of staff is detrimental to maintaining a secure and humane correctional environment.
- Violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act: Several employees claim to have faced retaliation or adverse actions after utilizing their rights under FMLA. Such actions, if true, not only infringe upon the employees’ rights but also create an atmosphere of fear and reluctance to take necessary medical leave.
- Violations of the 32-hour mandatory overtime rule: Reports have suggested that prison staff are being subjected to excessive mandatory overtime, exceeding the 32-hour limit set by state law. This practice can lead to burnout, decreased morale, and potential lapses in security and safety.
“Given the gravity of these claims and the potential implications they could have on the safety and well-being of staff and inmates, I believe it is essential to conduct an unbiased and thorough investigation into these matters,” Lightner wrote. “As such, I respectfully request that the Michigan Office of Auditor General initiate an independent audit of the Michigan Department of Corrections to examine the accuracy of these claims and determine whether any legislative action or policy changes are necessary to address them effectively.”
Michigan’s prison population decreased by 1,431 prisoners in 2021 to 32,186 prisoners, a decline of 4.3% according to a May 2022 report. The total prisoner population hasn’t been this low since 1989 when Michigan sent returning prisoners to halfway houses to reacclimate to society while serving sentences.
The 2021 year-end prison population was 37.6% smaller than the record high of 51,554 prisoners reached in March 2007, or 19,368 prisoners fewer than the peak population.
MDOC Spokesman Kyle Kaminski said the MDOC “must maintain operations with sufficient staffing” on site every day of the year for public safety.
“This has placed a significant burden on our current employees, which is why the MDOC has undertaken a variety of efforts to increase recruitment and retention,” Kaminki wrote in an email.
Those efforts included a recruiting campaign, paid media, retention bonuses, and more, Kaminski said.
Kaminski said the MDOC “remains fully focused on solutions to this set of challenges.”
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi. In 2021, he published a book on technology and privacy. He co-hosts the weekly Michigan in Focus podcast.
