Problems at Michigan’s Only Prison for Women Continue to Reach HFP

Problems at Michigan’s only prison for women have drawn significant attention in recent months. They are also landing directly on the desks of Humanity for Prisoners staff.

Women incarcerated at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility continue to share concerns with HFP about medical care, food, retaliation, and the difficulty of advocating for themselves. HFP Founder Doug Tjapkes recently compiled some of what we're hearing, in their own words.

Medical

“My feet and legs are bad, orthotics, leg stops working and do not know why. Doctor told me 3 years ago I needed to see someone, yet nothing done. I still am expected to stand in lines for lunch for an hour with horridly sore feet. I have asked for a ‘no standing’ detail but am trying to stay out of a wheelchair as it is worse trying to find pushers.”

Food issues

“The chow hall food is a large problem here. The regular meals in a lot of tomato (acidic) supposed to avoid. The subs are all soy which causes leaky gut syndrome (proven fact, report done in Illinois prisons). Portions are taken way down, even on the holiday meals, while the food service people get to eat amply. They work hard and they need food but so do the rest of us and not all substitute crap.”

On making suggestions

“I pray and am trying to do the best I can each day with what I do have. Health care and food a major setback… the body wears down and out. If I make any suggestions or try to help (always have for 25 years), I am cussed out or shoved out of the programs. I understand I do not know everything and am staying out of the way. I’m simply informing of problems while I try to get health care resolved.”

On retaliation

“Many of the women here are scared to speak up, due to the retaliation becoming worse and worse. The director may have walked off, but nothing has gotten better. Many of our voices are being silenced due to fear. Just because we did wrong, does not mean we deserve to be treated this way!”

These are the voices reaching Humanity for Prisoners from inside WHV. We believe they deserve to be heard.

—Doug Tjapkes, Founder, Humanity for Prisoners