Sunday evening, the office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Gov. Whitmer had signed Executive Order 2020-62, which extends protections for vulnerable populations in Michigan’s county jails, local lockups and juvenile detention centers during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The order replaces her previous order 2020-29 and details risk-reduction protocols that have been adopted and implemented by the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and that county jails and local lockups are strongly encouraged to adopt.
“We continue to take action to protect all Michiganders from COVID-19," said Governor Whitmer. “That includes policies that protect incarcerated persons in our prisons, jails, and juvenile detention centers. By keeping common-sense and safe protocols in place, we can mitigate risk, save lives, and get through this crisis together.”
The order includes all of, but is not limited to, the following:
- Temporarily suspends transfers into and from MDOC facilities until risk-reduction protocols are adequately in place.
- Suspends provisions of the Jail Overcrowding Emergency Ac,t to allow local officials more flexibility in releasing vulnerable populations who do not pose a threat to public safety.
- Orders the State Budget Office to immediately seek a legislative transfer so that jails may be reimbursed for lodging prisoners who would have been transferred to MDOC, if not for the suspension of transfers.
- Outlines strong recommendations for juvenile detention centers across the state to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 in those facilities
The Michigan Department of Corrections will continue to monitor and evaluate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 to the prison population every seven days and can lift the temporary suspension of transfers when sufficient risk-reduction protocols are in place.
