The Michigan Department of Corrections takes the health and safety of those currently under our supervision seriously and remains committed to transparently and rapidly providing new information. Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility is the only prison facility that houses women in the state. The facility currently houses roughly 1,800 women with approximately 1,885 general population beds, with additional beds dedicated to SAI and intake reception. The following information includes the latest updates and actions taken proceeding recent critical events at the facility.
As part of ongoing litigation into allegations of toxic mold at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, the department contracted with a third-party expert to conduct comprehensive environmental testing at the facility. The department recently requested a summary of their findings to provide to the public to provide transparency and accountability. The expert testing found that Women’s Huron Valley Correctional does not have dangerous systemic black or toxic mold conditions. You can download and review the summary of findings below.
There are currently several ongoing investigations taking place on the recent deaths of individuals incarcerated at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. Full investigations may include a mortality review, an autopsy conducted by an independent medical examiner, an investigation conducted by police, and an administrative investigation which includes a review of procedural compliance within MDOC.
Khaira Howard passed away at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility on May 13. Life saving measures were initiated by onsite staff and EMS was called where they continued life saving measures upon arrival to the facility, but attempts were unsuccessful.
Rebecca Fackler passed away at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility on Sunday, May 17. Life saving measures were initiated by onsite staff and EMS was called where they conducted life saving measures, but attempts were unsuccessful.
Ashley Hoath passed away at Trinity Health Hospital on June 6, several hours after being transferred from the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility’s medical unit. Ms. Hoath was responsive at the time of the transfer. Several hours later, the facility was notified of her passing.
The Michigan Department of Corrections has taken meaningful actions at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility and other facilities in the last several weeks to improve the health and safety of incarcerated individuals. These actions include:
Increased Healthcare Support
Additional experienced clinical leadership from across the state have been called to the facility to provide assistance. The department is in the process of hiring additional full-time medical staff and is working to post and recruit for those positions as soon as possible.
Healthcare Staffing Plan
A new healthcare staffing plan is being developed for the facility that includes enhanced nursing management and other coverage. This includes expanding the physical location of medical staff to increase response time to medical emergencies.
Mental Healthcare Support
Qualified mental health professionals have been available on grounds at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility for women impacted by the recent loss of the individuals incarcerated there. In addition, the Michigan Department of Corrections Wellness Team has been at the facility to provide assistance to staff who are also impacted.
Improved Staff Communications
The facility has implemented many tactics to improve communication between medical and custody staff at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. This includes, but is not limited to regular healthcare “huddles”, improved logbook processes and review, and one-on-one personal communication.
Improved Communication with Incarcerated Individuals
Leadership, healthcare, and custody staff have been working to improve one-on-one communication with incarcerated individuals. In addition, the department is looking to expand staff training on communicating with incarcerated women to include communication tactics that are trauma informed.
Peer Recovery Coaches
Peer Recovery Coaches use their own lived experiences to help individuals navigate treatment, housing, and long-term recovery, reducing recidivism and supporting community reintegration. There are currently 2 peer staff recovery coaches at WHV. The department is in the process of issuing a solicitation to begin training additional staff as Peer Recovery Coaches for all facilities as early as July. The department is also working to carefully select and train prisoners who have shown the behavioral capacity and desire to become coaches for others in their facilities. The department anticipates that they will be trained this fall.
Railing Infrastructure Improvements at Parnall Correctional Facility (SMT) and Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center (RGC)
In FY2025, the Michigan Department of Corrections worked with the state legislature to appropriate $10 million to improve the railing structure at Parnall Correctional Facility (SMT) and Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center (RGC). The Railing Safety Project at the two Jackson facilities is currently underway. The contract for the RGC portion of the project was signed this on June 2 and a notice to proceed was issued today, June 8. The SMT contract is being sent for Administrative Board approved on June 16.
The Department of Corrections is committed to public safety and preparing individuals for reentry. Over the last decade, the department has safely reduced the prison population, modernized facilities and operations, increased reentry support opportunities and achieved the lowest recidivism rates in Michigan history, establishing as a national leader in evidence-based corrections.
The total prisoner population stands at approximately 32,500 individuals across MDOC facilities statewide.
Yes, all incarcerated individuals receive a consistent community standard of care that includes regular health and wellness screenings, preventative care, access to onsite medical staff, outside specialists as needed, quality medications and medical equipment and emergency services. MDOC also supports individuals with long-term chronic conditions.
Yes, the Bureau of Health Care Services, Mental Health Services provides mental health treatment and services to prisoners in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Incarcerated individuals have access to inpatient treatment, residential treatment, outpatient treatment and Counseling Services and Intervention. Our Qualified Mental Health Professionals provide an array of services, including crisis intervention, segregation monitoring, suicide prevention services, assessment, identification and referral for treatment and more.
The department currently employs 446 full-time mental health employees and 1,003 full-time health care employees.
No, MDOC cannot comment on the health or medical treatment of specific incarcerated individuals due to health privacy concerns. The department will provide access to incarcerated individuals’ health care records when those individuals have provided a signed release.
Director Washington and healthcare leadership have been regularly onsite at WHV providing oversight. Additional experienced clinical leadership from across the state have been deployed to the facility. The department is hiring additional full-time medical staff, developing a new healthcare staffing plan with enhanced nursing management, among other action items.
Yes. Qualified Mental Health Professionals have been available in the housing units for women impacted by these losses. The facility's Mental Health Team is providing ongoing support, as is standard following critical events. The facility also provides regular religious services and counseling as part of routine programming.
MDOC worked with an independent, certified third-party contractor to complete air and surface mold testing at the facility. A summary of those results can be found here:
No, the facility is not overcrowded. The facility currently houses roughly 1,800 women with approximately 1,885 general population beds, with additional beds dedicated to SAI and intake reception, for a total of roughly 2,100 total beds. Some incarcerated individuals believe that that facility is overcrowded because they are not permitted to have their own cell, but it is standard practice across all facilities to have double occupancy in cells and facility infrastructure is designed for that occupancy.
The facility has robust programming available to women incarcerated at the facility. This includes Adult Basic Education and General Education Development preparation classes and post-secondary programs offering bachelor and associate degrees from Eastern Michigan University and Jackson College. WHV’s Vocational Village opened in 2021 and is the first of its kind for women. The program offers training in high-demand trades: carpentry, cosmetology, 3D printing, robotics, truck driving, food technology and horticulture. Training in forklift operation is also offered as a stackable credential. Women also have access to religious programs, substance abuse treatment, psychological services, and general library and law library services.
No. All incarcerated individuals are offered three meals a day at the facility. Some incarcerated individuals choose not to attend every meal but instead elect to consume food they have purchased from commissary.
The following is the number of deaths recorded for the last 5 years. Deaths may have taken place at a hospital or the facility.
Ambulance and emergency runs to outside emergency rooms happen regularly at every MDOC facility, just like it would in the community. Some facilities have an increase in these trips due to the type of population that is housed within the facility. According to the CDC, women are more likely to visit an emergency department than a man. This year, there have been approximately 200 emergency room visits by incarcerated women at the facility. Carson City Correctional Facility (DRF), which has a similar population, had roughly 160 emergency room visits in the same time period.
The following is the number of deaths recorded for the last 5 years at all facilities. Deaths may have taken place at the facility or a hospital.
The department has not been served with any lawsuits in relation to the deaths at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility this year.
Family members and members of the public may contact the department at AskMDOC@michigan.gov for updates on investigations or information about loved ones.
MDOC is committed to being a transparent partner. The department provides access to all MDOC facilities to legislative members upon request and holds multiple stakeholder briefings to share updates. Legislative and congressional members are encouraged to tour facilities, and the department will continue providing briefings as new developments occur.
