The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), currently maintains 43 prisons and 13 camps throughout the State of Michigan housing thousands of offenders.  The MDOC has been in existence in one form or another since the 1870’s.  Over 130 years in the incarceration business should create adequate experience in managing detention facilities.  MDOC maintains an inspection office referred to as the County Jail Services Unit that is responsible for inspecting County jails as well.

            Annually the Sanilac County Jail has been inspected by the MDOC for compliance with the Administrative Rules For Jails And Lockups of 1998. 

            At first glance the Administrative Rules of 1998 appear to apply only to administrative and personnel matters, which is ironically how the current county jail management announce the annual reports in the local press.  Since January of 2008 there have been at least two public announcements made by the current jail management claiming full compliance with these rules which have resulted in two separate news articles appearing in the Sanilac County News.

             I recently made a Freedom of Information Request (FOIA) for copies of the last 3 years reports simply to confirm the information contained in the MDOC reports.  Initially Mr. Males, the Sanilac County Administrator responded in writing to me claiming Sanilac County did not have any of these reports.  Following a telephone conversation with him he recanted the information contained in the written response and located some of the older reports.  

           Following this exchange I contacted the Michigan Department of Corrections directly with a similar FOIA request.  On May 17^th, 2008 I received a copy of the Rules of 1998 and copies of the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 Sanilac County Jail Inspection Reports from the MDOC, (apparently both the State of Michigan and Sanilac County cannot find the 2007 Report).

            Each inspection report prepared by the MDOC following their inspections of the Sanilac County Jail facility all clearly state,

            “On the day of our inspection, the Sanilac County Jail was in compliance with all of the Administrative Rules for Jails and Lockups.”

          The Rules of 1998 address more issues in the county jail than just staffing.  Rule R791.701(e) define “Facility”, as the jail or lockup, and includes the buildings and site.

           Throughout the Rules of 1998, the physical structure of the jail, i.e. building and site, are addressed.  Of particular interest are the following rules that deal specifically with the jail building itself:

            R 791.704 Exits

            R 791.708 Fire Safety

            R 791.710 Fire Inspections

            R 791.711 Fire Safety; Furnishings

            R 791.724 Sanitation Inspections

            R 791.725 Water Supply

            R 791.726 Waste Disposal Plan

            R 791.727 Vermin And Pest Control Plan

            R 791.734 Detoxification Cells

            R 791.735 Holding Cells

            R 791.737 Safety And Maintenance Of Equipment And Structures

            R 791.737(1) states, “The Administrator shall develop and implement safety standards that will protect the health and welfare of inmates and staff.”

            R 791.737(2) states, “The Administrator shall ensure that inmate and staff equipment and structures are maintained.”

            R 791.724 and R 791.725 both require the jail facility “to maintain sanitation and potable water supplies in compliance with Federal, State and local standards.”

           According to these MDOC inspection reports at least since 2004 the Sanilac County Jail facility has been in full compliance with all of the applicable Rules of 1998, this includes not only in staffing and safety, but the sanitation and water sources.  Included in these inspection reports is the physical condition of the building and furniture themselves.  All are in compliance with Federal, State and Local rules.

          These MDOC inspection reports lead the reader to one inescapable conclusion.  The MDOC is wrong and has been covering up the condition of the jail, or, the information supplied to the taxpayers over the past 4 years regarding the current jail condition has been misleading.  Review these reports and Rules of 1998 and draw your own conclusions.

      November 4th

    Take charge and help

  determine the future of

         Sanilac County.