EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.

News about Michigan prisons and their occupants hasn’t been good lately. The public has been blitzed with disturbing media reports.

• Recently released audits show significant security failures at three facilities,
  including falsified cell search records and metal detector lapses.
• Four Michigan corrections officers have been criminally charged with beating a prisoner at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, leaving the inmate with a
  broken back, a broken hand, and broken facial bones.
• A federal judge recently blasted the grievance process for Michigan prisoners as one that obstructs, deflects and improperly rejects legitimate and timely complaints.
• Michigan is facing a significant shortage of correctional officers, sometimes up to 20% and 30%, leading to mandatory overtime and impacting inmate treatment and privileges.
• Michigan’s average prison sentence length is roughly three times the national average, and the state leads in the proportion of its prison population serving sentences longer than 10 years.
• A “second look” bill that would give some long-term prison residents an opportunity to get resentenced has been sandbagged by State House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Marshall, who declared that, for the next two years, criminal justice reform legislation would not move forward under his leadership.

At first, I’m indignant upon reading this stuff, and that leads to anger. As a writer, I feel prodded to raise hell, and I’ve done my share of it over the years.

A bit of history here. In 2001, I formed an organization to help incarcerated men and women in our state. Despite the population being, as one MDOC director years ago claimed, “the worse of the worst,” I found that to be untrue.

Some of the nicest people I know live in prison. Some of my best friends are locked in these cages. About a thousand Michigan inmates have been wrongly convicted. Many more have been over-sentenced or over-charged, and still many more are very old and/or very sick. “The worst of the worst?” As a result, Humanity for Prisoners is resolved to treat everyone behind Michigan bars with kindness and compassion, doing its best to assure these people that they matter.

Despite the political “get tough on crime” crowd, with their “lock ' em up and throw away the key” attitude, we must keep in mind that incarceration is
the punishment. We must not make things worse for them. Up to 90% of them are going to be released someday, and decent treatment will certainly contribute toward making them better neighbors for you and me.

So, upon reflecting, I’m thinking that perhaps, instead of raising hell, I should take a softer approach. After all, some of the department’s administrators believe in prison reform and are doing their best to bring about improvement. While there are some bad apples in the bushel, many correctional officers, despite excessive overtime hours and unpleasant conditions, carry out their tasks with fairness and integrity.

Not all state lawmakers have negative attitudes toward prisoners. There are elected officials on both sides of the aisle who continue to push for desperately needed prison, parole and sentence reform.

So, I’m suggesting that we consider an alternate action. Let’s pray. I mean it! Those of us in prison advocacy are good at remembering those behind bars in our prayers, especially prisoners dealing with serious issues. But I’m advocating that we expand the scope.

For example, let’s remember those prison administrators who are trying to make things better; underpaid and overworked corrections officers, many of whom are exhausted and frustrated; and, elected officials who have the ability to bring about change.

Don’t get me wrong: We must not weaken. Pray, yes … but do not stop there. Continue to speak out, continue to stand for all things good and fair, and continue to stick up for “the little guy!”

"... If all you do is pray and sit back waiting for God to do all the work, you do not really understand the character of God, the gospel, or what it means to be called by God." ~ Joel Pelsue

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." ~ St. Augustine

— Doug Tjapkes is the founder of Humanity for Prisoners, a prominent Michigan prisoner advocacy agency with offices in Spring Lake.

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