Marquette lawmaker pushes for expanded corrections watchdog powers

State Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton), who represents the Marquette area in the Michigan House, introduced legislation Tuesday that would dramatically expand oversight of the state's prison system.

The bills come as Michigan faces scrutiny after multiple inmate deaths in state facilities.

Two bills target prison transparency gaps

Bohnak and State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) introduced House Bills 5920 and 5921 to expand the authority of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman, the independent office that investigates complaints involving the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Under current law, only prisoners or legislators can file complaints with the ombudsman. The new legislation would allow corrections employees, family members of prisoners or corrections officers, and prisoner advocates to submit complaints as well.

"It has been tragically apparent that more accountability is needed," Wortz said. "We need to guarantee that our correctional facilities are being operated with safety and transparency."

Wortz pointed to ongoing investigations into the deaths of Rebecca Fackler at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility and Khaira Howard, which occurred just days apart.

Records access and public reporting

The bills would require the department to provide the ombudsman with access to critical records without special release forms. Those records include:

  • Medical records
  • Mental health records
  • Mortality records
  • Morbidity records

The legislation would also require the ombudsman to publish annual and monthly public reports detailing the number of complaints received and how each complaint was resolved.

Bohnak cites conditions for corrections officers

Bohnak framed the bills as a way to protect corrections officers who work in difficult conditions.

"Our corrections officers have some of the toughest jobs in our criminal justice system," Bohnak said. "With extensive, documented failures within the state corrections department, our COs have been left without true leadership, often working long hours in often miserable conditions."

He said the bills would allow corrections officers to speak more freely about their working conditions.

Bills head to Judiciary Committee

The legislation was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary for further review.

Bohnak also co-sponsored House Bill 6008, introduced by State Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River), which would establish an annual wolf hunting and trapping season in the Upper Peninsula when the gray wolf is removed from the federal endangered species list. The bill has State Reps. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) and Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs) as co-sponsors.

The wolf population in the Upper Peninsula is estimated at 762, an increase of 131 compared to the 2022 survey, according to DNR Large Carnivore Specialist Brian Roell.

"Upper Peninsula families and sportsmen have watched wolf numbers explode while our deer and moose populations take a severe beating," Prestin said. "This is not sustainable for our herds, our hunters, or our rural communities."