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Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington releases statement on the creation of the "Corrections Officers Jack Budd and Josephine McCallum Memorial Highway"

Contact: Chris Gautz, GautzC@michigan.gov

517-241-0363 or

Holly Kramer, KramerH@michigan.gov

517-335-3090

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington releases statement on the creation of the "Corrections Officers Jack Budd and Josephine McCallum Memorial Highway"

Lansing, Mich. – Following the bill signing today by Gov. Rick Snyder making a portion of Highway I-94 in Jackson County to be known as the "Corrections Officers Jack Budd and Josephine McCallum Memorial Highway," MDOC Director Heidi Washington issued the following statement.

“Our corrections officers and correctional staff work hard every day to keep Michigan’s citizens safe, and these two brave officers gave their lives protecting our state,” Washington said. “Designating a portion of this frequently-traveled highway in their memory is a great way to remind others of the sacrifice they made and honor their service.”

Both Josephine McCallum and Jack Budd were murdered by prisoners at the State Prison of Southern Michigan in 1987.

McCallum, a new corrections officer, was sexually assaulted and strangled to death by a prisoner on March 24. Officer Budd was stabbed to death by a prisoner on Dec. 27.

Their deaths led to major changes to the department, including increased training, more staff and breaking up the prison into smaller and more manageable facilities.

At each new corrections officer academy, awards are given out by the department to the top performing recruits in McCallum and Budd’s names.