Tag: Prison

Good Time Still Makes Good Sense

The article discusses the ongoing challenges of Michigan's prison system, particularly the lack of broad good-time and earned-time credit policies, which allow prisoners to reduce their sentences through good behavior and rehabilitation participation. Currently, Michigan's average minimum sentences have increased significantly, contributing to a higher prison population and increased corrections spending, which exceeds $2 billion annually. Evidence from other states illustrates that good-time credits can reduce recidivism and lower costs while promoting safety and rehabilitation. The author argues for reform, emphasizing the importance of creating incentives for prisoners to engage positively with rehabilitation programs, which in turn fosters public safety and effective reentry.

Whitewashed

The article discusses two types of prison neglect in America: visible neglect, characterized by deteriorating conditions like mold and contaminated water, and administrative neglect that downplays these issues through bureaucratic tactics. The Michigan Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility exemplifies this problem, where reports of mold and poor ventilation have been ignored despite ongoing litigation. Nationally, a pattern of denial and deflection emerges, revealing a systemic failure to address environmental hazards in prisons, ultimately compromising inmates' health and safety.

GPS Monitoring and Parole: Safety Tool or Lifetime Burden?

I have previously written about my experience wearing a GPS Tether while on parole in an article called Tether Ball and Chain that was published back in December of 2018. Since then, as part of my ministry, I have spoken with other people who have had to wear a GPS tether as a condition of parole and a surprising number of them who must wear it for life.  I thought it was time to revisit the topic with up-to-date information regarding electronic monitoring as used by the State of Michigan, with context about how this practice is used in other states and by the federal government.

Reform Solitary Confinement Practices in Michigan Prisons Now!

May is Unlock the Box Mental Health Awareness Month, aimed at advocating against solitary confinement. The Unlock the Box Campaign, active in 22 states, highlights the severe psychological effects of solitary confinement, with Michigan's Open MI Door leading local efforts for reform. While some segregation may be necessary for safety, prolonged isolation causes significant harm and is inconsistent with human rights standards. Reform should focus on limiting segregation duration and promoting humane alternatives to improve inmate conditions and rehabilitative outcomes.

Sunshine Laws and the Black Box of American Prisons

The U.S. claims to uphold democratic transparency through sunshine laws, yet prison systems remain opaque and resistant to scrutiny. Despite public access laws, obtaining vital information about prison conditions is hindered by bureaucratic delays and institutional secrecy. Enhanced transparency and independent oversight are essential for accountability in corrections.

Locked Down: How Prison Lockdowns Undermine Mental Health and Rehabilitation in U.S. Prisons

In many U.S. prisons, “lockdown” no longer describes a rare emergency response to a riot or a narrowly targeted security incident. It has become a recurring operational mode: housing units sealed, movement halted, yard and dayroom time canceled, phones restricted, visits suspended, and education, treatment, and job assignments paused—sometimes for days, weeks, or even months. Reporting in recent years has documented extended lockdowns tied not only to violence but also to chronic understaffing and overcrowding, raising a stark question: When a prison can’t run its basic schedule safely, are we still operating a rehabilitative institution or merely warehousing human beings behind steel doors?

Hurts, Hang-Ups, and Habits: An Introduction to Celebrate Recovery

While I was incarcerated one of the programs offered by the chaplain was an introductory course on Celebrate Recovery.  There was an AA program at the prison, and I knew a lot of guys who attended because they always had a coffee urn, but CR was different.  I had recently read Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life book and was looking for concrete information on healing. The old expression says “Time heals all wounds,” but mine weren’t.  I was in pain; my hurt wasn’t going away.  I was looking for a faith-based program that could provide me with an actionable process to systematically address my brokenness and guide me toward healing. In this post, we’ll explain what Celebrate Recovery is, what a typical meeting looks like, and why the same CR principles that help people in church communities can also bring real hope behind bars through Celebrate Recovery Inside (CRI), the prison and jail extension of the ministry.

April Is Second Chance Month: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Every April, communities across the United States pause to recognize a powerful truth: no one should be defined forever by their worst mistake. April is Second Chance Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the barriers facing people with criminal records and to promote policies and practices that support successful reentry, restoration, and community safety.

“If—” Behind Bars: How Christian Faith Rewrites Strength, Failure, and Hope in Prison

Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If—” has long been admired as a guide to character. It celebrates calm under pressure, self-control amid chaos, and the ability to endure loss without bitterness. For many people, the poem represents maturity—becoming someone who can stand tall no matter what life throws their way. Written for a free person navigating life’s trials, its ideals feel aspirational and dignified. But what happens when those ideals are placed behind concrete walls and metal bars? What does “If—” look like in prison, and how does the Christian faith reinterpret both suffering and strength in that context? Examining prison through a Christian perspective alongside Kipling’s poem reveals both striking parallels and meaningful tensions—especially around dignity, endurance, failure, and hope.

OLD SCHOOL

While in prison I met a lot of men that required assistance in the form of wheelchairs, walkers or canes to get around. Most of the handicapped inmates I knew didn’t arrive in prison that way. In Prison time moves slowly but inmates age faster than on the outside. A substantial body of medical, gerontological, and social science research demonstrates that incarceration is associated with accelerated aging. Each year spent incarcerated is associated with an estimated two‑year reduction in life expectancy. Incarcerated individuals experience earlier onset of chronic disease, functional impairment, cognitive decline, and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. As a result, people in prison are often considered physiologically 10–15 years older than their chronological age. Recent reforms move Michigan away from the most restrictive end of the spectrum, but it remains closer to “medically frail only” systems than to states that treat advanced age and lengthy incarceration itself as grounds for sentence review. Compared with these models, Michigan—like most U.S. states—places greater emphasis on managing aging within prison rather than structurally limiting long-term incarceration of older adults.