YPSILANTI, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — For the fifth time in two weeks, the Michigan Corrections Organization (MCO) is bringing attention to prison staffing shortages by picketing outside of state correctional facilities.
On Thursday, workers were outside of Michigan’s only women’s prison, the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti.
Some corrections officers say it’s not uncommon to come into work planning on an eight-hour shift, only to find out that it’s getting pushed to 16 hours while they’re still on the clock. They claim that they are left with eight hours to commute home, check in with family, and catch up on sleep before it’s time to do it all over again.
“Everything about this whole picture is just heartbreaking to see good officers leave and to have good officers just snap. I’ve seen it because I’ve gotten close to that point myself,” said Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility officer Coretta King.