Federal Judge Finds MDOC Grievance System Blocks Inmates from Filing Complaints
Federal Judge Elizabeth Stafford of the Eastern District of Michigan recently ruled that the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) grievance process unfairly blocks prisoners from filing timely and valid complaints.
Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers represents three prisoners in Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility who allege the damp and unkept ventilation systems produced mold and negatively affected their health. The MDOC argued the case should be thrown out because it claims the prisoners did not exhaust their “administrative remedies” before going to court.
Federal Judge Elizabeth Stafford noted in her ruling that the prisoners encountered consistent obstacles while trying to file grievances in their cases, revealing how state-level systems consistently make it difficult for incarcerated individuals to access the courts when seeking help, ultimately rejecting the MDOC’s motion to dismiss.
"MDOC officials stymy the prisoners' efforts to get relief either through the grievance system or in court," and "this court should not sanction MDOC's machinations," Stafford wrote.
Founding Partner Cary McGehee remarked that this ruling “will have far-ranging ramifications and affect the rights of all prisoners within the MDOC.”
We are proud to work with incarcerated individuals and ensure they receive access to their lawful rights while in prison.
Read more:
Detroit Free Press: Federal judge: MDOC grievance system stymies inmate efforts to address complaints