LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – An audit by the state of Michigan of widespread security lapses in the state’s prisons, including falsifying records of cell searches, triggered concern among Republicans.
State Rep. Ann Bollin issued a March 28 press release urging state prison officials to respond to the findings of the Michigan Auditor General’s audit.
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“These findings are deeply troubling and highlight a dangerous lack of oversight in our corrections system,” said Bollin, R-Brighton Township, in a press release. “When officers are failing to conduct thorough searches of inmates, vehicles, and staff entering the prison, it creates a major security risk. This kind of negligence is exactly how drugs, weapons, and other contraband flood into our prisons.”
The audits reported:
At the Ionia Correctional Facility, the audit reported that corrections officers were not doing the minimum number of searches for items on prisoners and officers and prisoners routinely were not fully searched.
The audit also stated, “corrections officers likely falsified cell search logbooks 38% of the time” and did not complete over 20% of required daily searches that were reviewed.
At the Baraga Correctional Facility, corrections officers falsified cell search logbooks about 25% of the time, according to the report.
“Also, nearly half the cell searches we observed on the surveillance video footage were completed in less than one minute, bringing into question the thoroughness of the searches,” the audit stated.
At the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, corrections officers falsified cell search logbooks about 4% of the time and 33% of cell searches were completed in less than one minute, according to the report.