The department also reported the death of a prisoner who had originally been housed at Chippewa Correctional Facility. In 2015, a broken piece of razor blade was found in Edmond's cell and she later made statements that she was "tired of being here" and hearing voices. But evidence from the scene suggests officials had different incentives. When you incarcerate women, you incarcerate a nation. On a weekday in September, well before sunrise, I arrived at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti with Michigan Radio Morning Edition producer Lauren Talley and intern Katie Raymond.. More than 200 people showed up at the rally that was held. On April 23, the department reported the deaths of a prisoner at Lakeland Correctional Facility, Parnall Correctional Facility and Woodland Center Correctional Facility. Though Ms. Pearson was later able to reconnect with her son, she described the pain she felt behind bars to the Detroit Metro Times. "I think it's safe to assume that it will be our position that there was deliberate neglect of duty," Steingold said. We need laws put in place that protect detained citizens, Ms. Duckworth said. The corrections agency later acknowledged it should have notified Michigan State Police more quickly. 'They are really killing me in here'Michigan women's prison under Prior to that, the deaths of two prisoners were reported on Dec. 21. Services (471-0301-19) Findings: 1. Beset by major depressive and mood disorders, she had attempted suicide on numerous occasions while incarcerated, according to court filings. At the time of her death, Janika Edmond was serving one year and five months to four years in prison for a probation violation on a previous charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, Michigan Department of Corrections records indicate. Theyre beating up sisters. According to the news outlet, it was not until state officials read media reports about the terminations that they opened an investigation into the circumstances of the suicide. Ypsilanti, MI 48197-0911. A prisoner originally housed at Muskegon Correctional Facility and passed away Sept. 12 at an area hospital, and a prisoner originally housed at Muskegon Correctional also passed away Aug. 22. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland approved an $860,000 settlement in the familys wrongful death suit against the department, Callahan and others, a court spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE. Federal data states that at least five million children nationwide have a parent in jail or prison, with Black children being disproportionately affected. That was my first child. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In September, a jury in Genesee Countyawarded $11.4 million to two black prisonworkersin a case alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. Janika Edmond had a very rough life, spending most of her teen years in foster care and suffering several suicide attempts. Mallorie Wilson-Strat is serving a life sentence at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility since her conviction in 2012. Moore, acting resident unit manager, was in the area once, for one minute. Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. In May,the departmentagreed to pay $860,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by relatives of a prisoner who hanged herselfafter officials allegedly placed a bet on whether she would become suicidal. The other category is an unnatural death. Daily life at Womens Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan, includes overcrowding, mold, improper airflow due to a clogged ventilation system, broken hot water tanks, water shortages, and mistreatment, harassment and degradation, according to activists and advocates. Inmate Died Of Accidental Heroin Overdose At Ypsilanti Women's Prison The critical incident report written by MDOC Lt. Effelina Jones detailed a timeline of the events surrounding Edmond's death as they happened on a video surveillance camera and as observed and reported by staff. Incarcerated parents breed incarcerated children, and it takes a toll on the entire family. Inmate Sentenced For Local Crime Found Dead In Prison - WHMI-FM Hollywood writers to go on strike for first time in over 15 years, slamming 'gig economy', Federal prison official had sexual relationship with ex-prison union chief, Federal prison suicides were quietly rising before Jeffrey Epstein's death in a New York detention center, Colorado woman files lawsuit after prison video shows her giving birth alone in jail, settled her sexual harassment suitagainst the departmentfor $1.1 million, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. She sought it out. Sexual abuse allegations are evolving out of the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility after two former employees said they were fired . Corrections officer Krista Subic found Edmond on the floor while making her rounds through the shower area at about 2:13 p.m., according to her critical incident participant report. More: Former Michigan female prisoners settle sexual assault claims for $495,000, More: Michigan to pay $860K to settle lawsuit over suicide at women's prison. Incarcerated Women Are More Likely to Be Abuse Victims, Have Mental The money is insufficient to salve their loss, Steingold said. Ultimately, she settled for $860,000. PDF Office of the Auditor General The death of a prisoner who had originally been housed at Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility, was reported on Dec. 4. On Dec. 15, New Jerseys acting attorney general Andrew J. Buck announced charges against five defendants in an investigation at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, the states only prison facility for state-sentenced women prisoners. "When told to stop resisting, Prisoner Edmond dropped to the ground and began kicking her feet," according to the misconduct hearing report. It took the Michigan Department of Corrections 24 hours to alert family members to the inmates suicide attempt, the filing maintains. The department confirmed the suspensions after The Ann Arbor News obtained 196 pages of Edmond's prisoner file and critical incident report through a Freedom of Information Act request.