This collection reveals details of living conditions in Michigan prisons. People shared their experiences of incarceration at a variety of facilities and security levels. Topics addressed include healthcare, cleanliness, food and water safety, jobs in prison, and money.
As you move through the exhibition, notice the way folks describe how the living conditions in prison reinforce the dehumanization of the carceral system. The loss of their freedom is far from the only punishment they experienced.
These testimonials were gathered during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, some of their content reflects what incarcerated people went through during an especially stressful time. Features of incarcerated life during the pandemic have included surges of infection and lockdowns, overcrowding, inadequate safety precautions, and lack of reliable information. Almost 2/3 of people incarcerated in Michigan tested positive for COVID in the first year of the pandemic. At 7 facilities, that number was over 80%.
Further reading:
Op-ed: “COVID in Custody”
White Paper by the Carceral State Project & American Friends Service Committee, “I Don’t Want to Die in Prison”