During the past week COVID-19 has infiltrated 19 of Michigan’s 28 prisons causing over 830 new infections. Three of the prisons had over 100 new cases. According to the latest data from the Michigan Department of Corrections, to date an alarming 87% of people incarcerated in Michigan prisons have contracted COVID-19.

The pandemic has undoubtedly disproportionately threatened the health and safety of individuals in carceral facilities. In the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, “[i]nmates everywhere have been rendered vulnerable and often powerless to protect themselves from harm.” (Valentine v. Collier, 140 S. Ct. 1598, 1601 (2020)).

TAKE ACTION: Call on Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), to exercise her authority to address the COVID-19 crisis in Michigan prisons. Click Here to write a letter

TAKE ACTION: Support Michigan Prison Reform by signing this petition http://Bitly.com/MichPR

Sincerely,
Efrén Paredes, Jr. of Tri-Chair of Michigan Poor People’s Campaign