Citizens for Prison Reform

09/02/2026

New Clean Slate Initiative research estimates arrest and conviction records are associated with $440 billion in lost earnings annually across the U.S.

09/02/2026

Learn what questions to ask prison or jail officials, how to request key records and what to consider if you’re thinking about legal action.

08/31/2026

In Their Words: Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility

“Why consider sobriety with this massive supply?”

Statement shared by a woman currently incarcerated at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we are highlighting a recurring concern women at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility have shared with us: drugs circulating inside the facility while access to treatment, recovery programming, and other meaningful supports can be limited or delayed.

Women have described long waits for programs and too few pathways for people trying to work toward sobriety and rehabilitation.

These concerns are not isolated to Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. CPR hears similar reports from people and families connected to prisons across Michigan, including concerns about drugs inside facilities, overdose risk, long waits for programming, and the need for more meaningful pathways to recovery.

People struggling with addiction need more than punishment. They need timely access to evidence based treatment, recovery programming, overdose prevention, and continued support. Yet substance related misconduct can also lead to visitation restrictions, disrupting family connection at a time when support and stability can be especially important.

On Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those we have lost, recognize those still struggling, and continue calling for meaningful pathways to recovery for people wherever they are, including inside our prisons.

08/31/2026

This week, we passed Rep. Jennifer Wortz’s (R-Quincy) plan to require safety protections and real accountability in Michigan’s prisons.

After multiple deaths behind bars, the status quo is unacceptable. These bills strengthen legislative oversight, open critical records, & require public reporting.

Taxpayers fund these facilities, and the state is responsible to ensure they're run well. We must do better.

08/29/2026

LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mich. - Water service disruptions are impacting hundreds of inmates and employees at Woodland Center Correctional Facility as contractors work to repair what the Michigan Department of Corrections described as a complex water main break.

The facility has experienced intermittent water disruptions since Tuesday afternoon, according to the department.

The entrance off of M-36 was blocked off Thursday evening while repair crews worked at the facility.

Woodland Center Correctional houses the departments Inpatient Mental Health and Crisis Stabilization Program.

It also has a dialysis housing unit.

Greeta Riley said her partner, Torando Ruffin, is incarcerated at the facility and receives dialysis treatment three days a week. Riley said Ruffin told her he received about two and a half hours of treatment Thursday and that a water tank was being used to assist with dialysis care.

Today he called, and he told me that he only got two and a half hours of treatment and they had a water tank out back, assisting, making sure some of the patients got a partial dialysis today, Riley said.

Riley said some showers have been limited and that portable toilets are being used.

She also said inmates were being supplied with bottled water.

They were only given two bottles of water. They wanted more water, because one bottle of water, theyre trying to wash their hands with one bottle. How are you supposed to do anything else with two bottles of water? Riley said.

Riley said the uncertainty over how long repairs will take has been frustrating.

The water is brown, so some of the people were actually using some of the brown water just to feel halfway clean, she said.

In a statement, the Michigan Department of Corrections said it has taken steps to protect inmates and staff while repairs continue.

The department has taken several steps to ensure the safety of incarcerated individuals and staff, including providing access to alternative water and restroom resources, the statement said.

The department said dialysis treatment is being provided safely at the facility under the d

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irection of qualified health care professionals.

It said the situation is being monitored closely while repairs are underway.

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08/27/2026

We’re excited and grateful to see CBS News highlighting HB 5920 and HB 5921 and the importance of strengthening independent oversight of Michigan’s prison system.

The legislation previously passed the Michigan Senate and has now passed the House with amendments. Those amendments will return to the Senate for consideration before the bills can move to the Governor’s office.

These bills reflect years of advocacy by families, impacted people, advocates, lawmakers, and community partners working to improve transparency and accountability within the Michigan Department of Corrections.

We appreciate the continued attention to this important issue and the voices of families who have worked tirelessly to make meaningful oversight reform possible.

The Michigan House voted on Tuesday for a legislative plan aimed at safety and transparency in the state's prisons after multiple inmate deaths, Michigan House Republicans said.

08/27/2026

HB 5920 (Wortz): Expands the powers and duties the Office of Legisl...