Remote Advocate’s Guide to Influencing Officials to #DecarcerateCOVID19
Your Voice Matters! MAKE NOISE!
This crisis is an opportunity to push for a dramatic transformation in Michigan’s state prison system. The conditions of the coronavirus crisis further highlight the need to repeal Truth-in-Sentencing laws in order to reduce the overcrowded conditions that would contribute to an uncontrollable spread of the virus behind the wall.
We have already seen numbers of infections and deaths increase exponentially over the past year. It is critical that state and prison officials take action before the pandemic reaches its climax, tens of thousands of lives are at risk behind the wall. This Remote Advocate’s Guide works to influence officials to #decarcerateCOVID19 in a variety of ways including the release all incarcerated people who fall into the CDC’s highest risk categories. Supporters, family members and concerned citizens alike can use this guide to urge officials to take immediate steps to reduce risks for people held in prisons and jails during COVID-19.
You can help be a voice from the voiceless from the comfort of your own home. This is the least that supporters on the outside can do for our incarcerated brothers and sisters ,who are anxiously awaiting relief for fear of their lives under cold, depressing and overcrowded prison conditions. Gov. Whitmer released an executive order, No. 2020-29, that provides relief to inmates incarcerated in jails and detention facilities. While this is a valuable step, more must be done to protect and provide relief to people in prison specifically. We can not forget those with long indeterminate sentences serving time in our state prisons. Communicating with the right authorities is a proven and effective way that you can help make a change!
Voice Your Concern to Governor Whitmer
She has the power to grant clemency to literally every single person incarcerated in the state of Michigan. She can enact compassionate release for as many elderly individuals or people with chronic illnesses as she wants. She can single handedly decrease the prison population, which has been overcrowded for decades, to full capacity (or less, if we want to truly provide room for social distancing inside).
You can also submit your request to the governor using the request assistance form on her office’s contact page.
Hold the Michigan Department of Corrections Accountable
Calling a Specific Facility: Questions to Consider
While MDOC has posted a Coronavirus QnA these responses do not address all the concerns that prisoners families and their allies might have as conditions are rapidly changing throughout this process.
- What procedures are being taken in order to keep the facility clean beyond normal operating procedures?
- How are infected prisoners being treated in a timely manner?
- How are prisoners who aren’t infected being kept safe?
- Do prisoners have access to medical protective equipment such as gloves or masks? If at all, how often are they getting supplied with these?
Don’t forget to submit your concerns and complaints to the Department of Corrections contact page.