Staffing crisis in Michigan's prisons

BARAGA, Mich. (WZMQ) — Some members of the union representing officers in the Michigan Department of Corrections staged a picket line in Baraga on Tuesday over staffing shortages and mandatory overtime for Michigan correctional officers. The informational strike was intended to raise awareness of the staffing crisis.
According to the Michigan Corrections Organization, Michigan prisons are on average 30% understaffed, forcing prisons to either cancel inmate activities or operate with too few staff. Both options pose a threat to inmates and correctional officers.
State Rep. Greg Markkanen explains the dangers involved.

“This issue is critical for the state of Michigan and for all the families of these prison inmates who are working three, four, five hours of mandatory overtime every week,” Markkanen said. “The situation is not safe. They are not getting enough time for their families and rest. This is also creating a dangerous situation in our prisons here in Baraga, Alger, Marquette, Kinross and in the south of the state.”

The Corrections Officers Union will hold a similar informational meeting in Marquette on Wednesday, August 21.