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American Prison Writing Archive 198 College Hill rd Clinton, NY 13323-1218 Dear sir/madam, July 9, 2020 The Michigan Prison system MDOC has once again shown its true colors concering prisoners. I sent the following letter to the State Governor's office, MDOC Directors Office too. I (of course) got no response. My logic was that courts of law and others were temporarily making changes to reduce the stress levels caused by the pandemic (in no way over here in MI). So perhaps prisoner restitution could be also suspended (as the courts were (are) victim restitution, etc). But this hasn't happened and as I said I got no answer. And so it needs to be known thru your Web posting. Please see and post following letter. Dear Sirs/Madam; May 24, 2020 The vulnerability of persons in prison to this Covid-19 outbreak is obvious. The virus has created an enviroment that is particularly stressful for both prisoners and staff. Worry about loved ones, whether you will survive exposure (sure to come), being limited to more stringent confinement (quarantines), having to wear masks everywhere, maintaining social distance (mostly impossible given we are in bunk beds), restricted programming, and no visits - all add to the stress. Efforts to help relieve (reduce) this stress have been made: free 5 min phone calls, free emails, and higher store buying limits are some. Now some state courts have suspended (until Jan 2021) prisoner restitution for court ordered costs too, thus allowing prisoners to be able to have more money to use to help reduce the stress added by the pandemic. I make 84 cents/day on my prisoner job. This is my, like many others, only means of "support". And, I, like many others, owe institutional debt to the MDOC. I'm left with about $11.00/month to spend on my needs. This doesn't leave much, if anything, for my wants to relieve any stress. I'm not able to gain any comfort from the stress by ordering more store (limit increased for this very purpose - to help relieve the stress), as is being allowed to others. Im asking that the MDOC (following the state courts example) also suspend prisoner institutional debt, Pg-2, 5/24/20 so I too can take advantage of the stress reducing implimentations the MDOC has made. (Many other prisoners are in this same situation owing institutional debt too.) Thank you for your compassion in considering this brief, but needed, suspension in institution debt restitution to help relieve (reduce) the stress of this pandemic. Sincerely, Matthew Milbourn - 4533 W Industrial Park Drive Kincheloe, MI 49788
