LANSING — Thirty state lawmakers from both political parties have signed a letter calling for state Corrections Director Heidi Washington to resign, citing “a pattern of denial, dishonesty, obfuscation, and obstruction” under her leadership.
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, a member of the House Oversight Committee, circulated the letter to fellow lawmakers as her concerns over prison conditions ramped up in recent days amid two sudden inmate deaths in four days at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility near Ypsilanti.
Since taking over leadership of the Michigan Department of Corrections in 2015, “concerns raised by inmates, their loved ones, and legislators alike have gone unaddressed,” said the May 21 letter, addressed to Washington.
“Inmates have died due to suicide, preventable health conditions, and dehydration.”
Jenni Riehle, a spokeswoman for Washington, said in response to the letter that the MDOC has become a national leader under Washington.
“Over the last decade, the department has safely reduced the prison population, worked to modernize facilities and operations, increased opportunities that support long-term public safety and self-sufficiency, and achieved the lowest recidivism rates in our state’s history,” Riehle said in an email.
The letter is signed by 23 Democratic state lawmakers, seven Republican state lawmakers, three former Democratic state lawmakers, and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit.
Washington is by far the most senior member of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s cabinet as the lone holdover from the Republican administration of Whitmer’s predecessor, Gov. Rick Snyder.
The Michigan Corrections Organization, the union representing state corrections officers, called for Washington’s removal in 2020 over her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has repeatedly criticized her since then over a chronic staffing shortage and other issues.
Republicans who signed the letter include State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, who has five state prisons in his Upper Peninsula district.
As for conditions and recent sudden deaths at Women’s Huron Valley, Riehle said Washington has been onsite with healthcare leadership at the women’s prison to provide oversight in day-to-day operations while investigations are ongoing.
“Additional experienced clinical leadership from across the state have also been called to the facility to provide assistance during this time,” she said.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lawmakers make bipartisan call for Michigan prison director to resign
Reporting by Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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