Michigan Corrections Union demands Whitmer bring in National Guard to relieve 'exhausted officers' in 'dangerous facilities'

LANSING, MI - A staffing shortage among Michigan Corrections Officers has reached such a degree that the union representing the officers has called upon Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer to take the drastic step of calling in the Michigan National Guard.

As reported by WTVG, a letter to the governor's office from The Michigan Corrections Officer Organization dated July 3rd requested that Whitmer call out the National Guard to provide help supporting the overwhelmed staff at state prisons.

Byron Osborn, the President of the Michigan Corrections Organization, told Action 13 News, "All those folks would really be able to provide to us is just some additional bodies, and eyes and ears to help maintain order."

Osborn said that many of the Corrections officers are mandated to work several 16-hour shifts weekly. In some cases, these long shifts are even consecutive.
 

“If you’re there from let’s say 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., that’s your shift, if the oncoming shift at 2 p.m. doesn’t have enough people, which most of the facilities don’t, they’re calling you and telling you, at the last minute, you’re staying until 10 p.m.,” Osborn added, observing that the situation can seriously impact the officer's home lives. "They are not being allowed to have a normal, healthy life with their families."
 

MCO REQUESTS NATIONAL GUARD ASSISTANCE IN STATE PRISONShttps://t.co/lTsba5YjZ6

— Michigan Corrections Organization (@MichiganCorrec1) July 3, 2024

 In the letter to Whitmer, Osborn described the grim situation to the Governor, "Your state corrections officers in the Michigan Department of Corrections need you to take immediate action to address the dangerous working conditions that have persisted and worsened throughout your time as governor. Under your watch, state corrections officers continue to suffer unlike any other state employees ever have in the history of Michigan. They are STILL being forced to work exhausting, demoralizing numbers of mandatory 16-hour overtime shifts per week. "

He continued, "Corrections officers are STILL being forced to run prison operations with far less than the required number of officers, resulting in unsafe prisoner to officer ratios. Officers are forced to work alone in isolated areas, jeopardizing not only their safety but that of the prisoners."

In August, News 8 reported that the Michigan Department of Corrections is shorthanded by approximately 900 officers with many Sheriff's Departments also reporting manpower shortages. An MDOC spokesperson told the outlet, "It is imperative that we see an increase in both hiring and retention to support our operations."