Community members gathered outside the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility Wednesday evening for a vigil honoring the women who have died at the facility, hosted by the bereaved families. Those in attendance advocated for the facility to be shut down as a result of four recent deaths sparking demands for change. These deaths are the most recent tragedy to occur in relation to systemic concerns at WHV — referencing the death of Jennifer Wallace, who died from sepsis at the facility in November, suspected as a result of medical neglect.
A memorial table featured photos of Rebecca Fackler, Khaira Howard, Ashley Hoath, Delphena Jones and Jennifer Wallace. Attending relatives — joined by community advocates — shared anecdotes of their loved ones, while calling for improved protections for women who are currently incarcerated at WHV. The vigil follows a series of ongoing protests against the Michigan Department of Corrections. Advocates within the community, including former WHV inmates, gather weekly across the street from any one of the facility’s outdoor recreation spaces, allowing some of the currently incarcerated women to hear statements from family and advocates.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Sam, a General Defense Committee organizer who chose to remain anonymous and is referred to here by a pseudonym, said they feel collaboration between the families and advocacy groups has amplified demands for politicians to focus on the wishes of those most impacted by the deaths.
“We wanted to invoke all of the names of the women who have passed in the last two years,” Sam said. “To make sure that you know their memories aren’t just the suffering and the misery, but are about the love that they received from their fellow women prisoners, their sisters inside — some of whom are free, some of whom are still being held captive inside.”
First to speak were the parents of Khaira Howard. Shaquillia DeShields, Howard’s mother, presented a statement written by her father, Don Howard. While reading the statement, DeShields said both parents hope advocates continue saying the names of all of the women who have died, and those who are currently possibly experiencing neglectful conditions at WHV.
“She was there to serve her sentence, not to lose her life,” DeShields said. “No matter what mistakes she may have made, she was still human … She still deserved compassion, dignity and proper medical care. As her father, there is no greater pain than knowing I cannot protect my child when she needed help the most.”
D. Howard reiterated the shared grief of the impacted families in his statement. DeShields called for the shutting down of WHV, referencing information shared at previous Michigan House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee hearing stating MDOC is legally obligated to provide a higher standard of care and living than has been expressed at WHV. DeShields expressed discontent with K. Howard’s treatment at WHV despite the facility holding a responsibility to look after her.
“I trusted that while she was in there, her care, her basic human needs — including her medical needs — would have been met,” DeShields said. “Instead, I am left with questions, heartbreak and an empty place in my family that can never be filled. People may see an inmate; I see my little girl.”
Speakers at the vigil said an immediate demand regarding WHV is for MDOC to release women with illnesses not treated by MDOC healthcare, terminal illnesses and disabilities. Alex, the child of a former inmate who chose to remain anonymous and is referred to here by a pseudonym, spoke at the vigil, saying the system intended to provide care and resources to their mother neglected to help her. Alex said they believe WHV should be shut down, in hopes of preventing future deaths.
“There are so many women who are being hurt in here,” Alex said. “They can’t speak about it because they’ll be punished, and it needs to be stopped. The old in there need to be released. The frail need to be released … This isn’t normal, and we need to continue the fight.”
Summer News Editor Kylie Harmala can be reached at kharmala@umich.edu.
