LANSING, MI (WTVB) – State Reps. Jennifer Wortz (R- Quincy) and Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton) Tuesday announced their plan to promote safety and transparency across Michigan corrections facilities.
The legislation expands the authority of Legislative Corrections Ombudsman to investigate complaints from corrections employees, family members of prisoners or corrections officers, and prisoners’ advocates. Current law only allows prisoners or legislators to file complaints with the ombudsman.
Wortz says “It has been tragically apparent that more accountability is needed”, Officials are now investigating the death of Rebecca Fackler at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, just days after the death of Khaira Howard”. Wortz added “This is unacceptable. We need to guarantee that our correctional facilities are being operated with safety and transparency.”
House Bills 5920 and 5921, introduced by Wortz and Bohnak (R-Deerton), establish a plan that would greatly expand the oversight powers of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman, which is the independent office responsible for investigating complaints involving the Michigan Department of Corrections.
The legislation would also require the department to provide the ombudsman with access to critical records, including medical, mental health, mortality, and morbidity records, without requiring special release forms.
To promote ethical accountability, the ombudsman would be required to publish annual and monthly public reports detailing the number of complaints received and how complaints were resolved.
The bills were referred to the House Committee on Judiciary for further review.
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