Former employees and whistleblowers testified Tuesday before a Michigan House Oversight Committee hearing in Lansing, raising serious concerns about conditions at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility — the state’s only women’s prison — including mold, inadequate medical care, drug trafficking and retaliation against those who speak out.
Watch Randy Wimbley’s video report below:
Ex-employees, others testify about mold, drug trafficking and more at Michigan’s only women’s prison
The hearing came after 7 News Detroit’s earlier reporting on lawmakers visiting Huron Valley to interview inmate Krystal Clark and investigate allegations of mold. Following that story, I began receiving letters from prisoners.
One letter read: “I’ve been here three years and I know about two correction officers and a cook who have had sex with prisoners… Let’s not forget about the officers who have been caught bringing illegal drugs in here — I know for a fact there’s been a few.”
LaResha Thornton, one of two former Women’s Huron Valley Prison employees to testify, described a pattern of cleanup efforts timed to official visits.
Lawmakers demand answers on reported mold issue at Michigan women’s prison
“The mold is only cleaned when someone from Lansing, as they say in MDOC terms, someone from Lansing comes to visit, they’re going to clean up. After the visit, the mold returns instantly,” Thornton said…