Health care inside Michigan prisons received much public attention in 2007.  It began with a series by Jeff Gerritt of the Detroit Free Press outlining what has been described as neglect and mistreatment of prisoners with physical and mental health issues.  Since then, Judge Richard Enslen has issued a strongly worded opinion in Everett Hadix, et al. v Patricia L. Caruso, et al., and the American Friends Service Committee and Prison Legal Services of Michigan jointly held a public hearing on the issue.  Although improving prison conditions is not part of CAPPS' mission, we are concerned about how the $265 million spent on medical and mental health care is being used and whether some parole-eligible prisoners might be treated more cost-effectively in the community.  For the benefit of CAPPS members and others who come to our site, we have included links to news stories on these issues.

Study criticizes prison health care By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press, Feb. 06, 2008 Aggressive management could improve inmate care The Detroit News, Editorial, Feb. 4, 2008   Report critical of state prison's health care By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press January 22, 2008 Muskegon inmate didn't get needed care By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press Nov. 18, 2007 In need of correction The Grand Rapids Press, Editorial, July 24, 2007 System tied to inmate deaths ending HMO coverage coming to state prisons BY DAWSON BELL, The Detroit Free Press, July 18, 2007 A dose of hope for prison care The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, July 18, 2007 Mental health courts offer better solution than prison By Jeff Gerritt, The Detroit Free Press, May 14, 2007 RIGHT-SIZING CORRECTIONS: Don't fight prison health care cure The Detroit Free Press, May 9, 2007 Make prisoner move health safe The Detroit Free Press, April 26, 2007 Let no others die from inept prison health care The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, Feb. 27, 2007 Judge blocks Jackson inmate transfers By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press,  Feb. 22, 2007 Close prisons, improve care The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, Feb. 22, 2007 JEFF GERRITT: Death sentence, life mission Bad prison care stole years, but not purpose, from an inmate's life The Detroit Free Press, Dec. 12, 2006 IN OUR OPINION | NEGLECT IN CUSTODY: Give prisoners a health advocate The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, Dec. 9, 2006 Judge rips 3 prisons over health care State corrections officials are in contempt, he rules BY DAVID ASHENFELTER The Detroit Free Press, Dec. 8, 2006 Judge threatens prisons with fines over health care By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press, Dec. 08, 2006 In Our Opinion/Neglect in Custody: Work on Prison Cures, Not Appeals The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, Nov. 20, 2006 Federal judge orders end to use of restraints as punishment for mentally-ill inmates (Link to judge's order) WWMT-Ch.3, Kalamazoo, Nov. 17, 2006 Dying ex-con: Prison's health care system failed By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press, Nov. 17, 2006 Michigan keeps death penalty in state prisons Lack of medical care condemns some Ann Arbor News, Editorial, Nov. 17, 2006 Advocates: Health care in Michigan prisoners in disarray By David Eggert, The Associated Press, Nov. 16, 2006 State must improve prison health care The Kalamazoo Gazette, Editorial, Nov. 15, 2006 NEGLECT IN CUSTODY: Fix prison health care now, judge says; He rips some state workers for deaths By Dave Ashenfelter, The Detroit Free Press, Nov. 14, 2006 Finally, a judge stands up for sick inmates The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, Nov. 14, 2006 State ordered to improve treatment of mentally ill By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press, Nov. 14, 2006 Federal judge orders Michigan prisons to end use of "torture" restraints By Sven Gustafson, Associated Press, Nov. 14, 2006 IN OUR OPINION | NEGLECT IN CUSTODY: Prison Mental Care Needs Oversight The Detroit Free Press, Editorial, October 13, 2006 Video shows mentally ill prisoner's slow death By Pat Shellenbarger, The Grand Rapids Press, October 12, 2006 Tainted drug test kept inmate off transplant list By Pat Shellenbarger, the Grand Rapids Press, Sept. 24, 2006 State's sickest inmates: Sentenced to die? By Pat Shellenbarger, the Grand Rapids Press, Sept. 24, 2006 Inmates die when state corrections officials don't learning from mistakes By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Sept. 22, 2006 Dying inmates deserve system with more compassion By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Sept. 18, 2006 Prison death demands a fix By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Sept. 1, 2006 Dig Deep for Prison Care Cures By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Aug. 28, 2006 Begin Cure of Prison Health Care By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press,  Aug. 22, 2006 Granholm orders review of prison health care system By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Aug. 22, 2006 Unhealthy Confinement: Inmates aren't the only ones who pay for poor medical care in prison By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Aug. 21, 2006 Neglect in Custody: A Special Report: Mentally ill inmate dies in isolation By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Aug. 20, 2006 Paroled to die at home, and eager for justice By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, Aug. 16, 2006 Needless death sentence: Level of care in state prisons is putting health of inmates at risk By Jeff Gerritt, the Detroit Free Press, June 19, 2006

 

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