In 1988, a group of Michigan prisoners filed this class-action lawsuit under state law in the Michigan Court of Claims against the Michigan Department of Corrections. The lawsuit grew out of the 1983 riots at Marquette Branch Prison, the Michigan Reformatory, and the Central Complex of the State Prison of Southern Michigan. There were a bunch of issues, including provisions for reimbursing prisoners who lost property during the riots. The prisoners initially pursued the litigation without counsel; Prison Legal Services of Michigan (PLSM) later became involved. PLSM moved into a trailer on prison grounds in order to be close to their clients, but were ordered to leave in late 2002 by the Michigan Court of Appeals.

After a protracted legal battle that moved slowly through the Michigan state court system, the parties reached a settlement on November 4, 2003. The settlement covered five areas: Classification, Personal Typewriters, Access To The Courts, Security Threat Group Claims and Miscellaneous Issues. Under the terms of the settlement, the parties agreed on appropriate classification and psychiatric services, plus restrictions on administrative segregation that exacerbates serious psychological illness. In addition to retaining personal word processors, prisoners also attained expanded law libraries with 25 hour/week access and adequate photocopies, prompt legal mail processing, longer attorney phone calls, and protective winter clothing.

All provisions of the Agreements were subject to dispute resolution under the auspices of Judge Michael G. Harrison. Monitoring appeared to be ongoing in early 2009; there is no further noted activity as of May 2015.

Kristen Sagar - 03/03/2009
Anna Dimon - 05/14/2015


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