As part of her ongoing efforts to support the hard working people of Michigan, State Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) toured the Baraga Correctional Facility on Aug. 13 to meet with corrections staff and discuss the staffing crisis that has impacted facilities across Michigan.
During her visit, Hill engaged directly with corrections officers to hear their concerns and explore potential solutions to staffing shortages.
Following up on those discussions, Hill has also introduced legislation to broaden the pool of potential job applicants and bring additional skilled workers into Michigan’s prisons. House Bill 5912 would ease education requirements for aspiring corrections officers by eliminating the requirement that they complete 15 credit hours of college.
“As I walked through the halls of the Baraga Correctional Facility, I was reminded of the tremendous challenges our corrections officers face every day. The staff at these facilities are an essential part of our criminal justice system, and they deserve our support,” Hill said.
“I go to Lansing to fight for the families who call the U.P. home. I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues at the state Capitol, as I advocate for our corrections officers. I’ve gone to bat for our U.P. workers and families before, and I’ll keep pushing until we see real change in our prisons.”
In May 2023, Hill introduced a legislative package with Reps. O’Neal and Snyder that would allow corrections officers to become members of the State Police Retirement System hybrid pension plan.
“I am calling on Speaker Tate to make my corrections bills a top priority this fall. These problems in our prisons have continued to worsen and legislative action is long overdue. By taking a big picture approach to retention and recruitment, we can help ensure corrections officers have the necessary benefits and support they need to lead fulfilling careers,” Hill concluded. “By reducing the barriers to entering this career track and bolstering benefits for workers, we can attract more qualified individuals to this profession and help address the staffing shortage that has put a huge strain on the state’s correctional facilities.”
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