WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Lawmakers heard alarming testimony Tuesday detailing years of alleged neglect, toxic mold, illegal drugs, and inadequate health care at Michigan’s only women’s prison, prompting calls for oversight and policy changes.
The Michigan House Oversight Committee centered its hearing on what Rep. Laurie Pohutsky called systemic failures at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.
“While we are talking about a couple of specific cases, these are systemic problems,” Pohutsky said.
Health impacts, mold exposure, and delayed care
Several people described longstanding mold problems that they say have made people sick and remain unresolved.
Records show inmate Krystal Clark first reported concerns about mold in April 2016 through a grievance that officials dismissed as too vague.
Clark later tested positive for mold and reported symptoms dating back to 2013, including rashes, itching, and difficulty breathing.
“The growth is present in both ears. It has spread to the outer parts of the ear. It is fuzzy, and she also has a white rash or growth that has spread across her face. Additionally, her entire right arm from the point where her sleeve ends to the tips of her fingers are incredibly swollen,” Pohutsky said.
Paula Kensu, who advocates for Clark, told Local 4 she has repeatedly tried to contact state officials on Clark’s behalf but has been ignored.
“I am just sickened to what they have done to her,” Kensu said. “We have tried to reach out to many people, and we have just been largely ignored. It’s very painful to watch someone in her condition suffer.”
Deaths and allegations of untreated illness
Lawmakers also heard about the death of inmate Jennifer Wallace, who died of sepsis on Nov. 16, 2025.
Her family alleges she suffered untreated dental abscesses and other lapses in care while in Michigan Department of Corrections custody.
“I believe her death was caused by them. Yes, I do,” her mother, Susan Wallace, told Local 4 ahead of the hearing.
Testimony outlined a timeline in which family members said they encountered delays with release-of-information forms, difficulty reaching medical staff, and a lag between Wallace’s hospital admission and the family being notified.
Susan said her last conversation with her daughter ended with, “Mom, I don’t deserve this.”
Flood Law has been retained by the Wallace family.
“Jennifer’s family deserves answers, and they will get them,” attorney Todd Flood said in a statement. “Our firm is conducting a thorough, independent investigation into the timeline and circumstances surrounding her death. When that investigation is complete, we will take whatever legal action is necessary to ensure full accountability and to protect the rights of her family.”
Retaliation, contraband, and culture concerns
Former and current employees described a workplace culture they say allows contraband to flourish, fosters retaliation, and discourages people from speaking up.
Laresha Thornton, a former teacher’s aide who worked at WHV for five years, said mold affected her personally and that when staff complained, they were simply reassigned to other prisons rather than the issues being fixed.
Witnesses also alleged verbal and sexual abuse by staff, the use of strip searches as retaliation, and threats aimed at employees who chose to speak out.
“People say Michigan doesn’t have a death sentence — it does. It’s Women Huron Valley,” said former employee Andi Allen.
Keith Barber, Michigan’s legislative corrections ombudsman, told the committee some improvements have been made, but said core problems persist.
“It’s difficult to address cultural issues, but it’s important to address them and hold people accountable,” Barber said.
Calls for accountability and next steps
Lawmakers said they want MDOC Director Heidi Washington and WHV Warden Jeremy Howard to testify and called for independent inspections and audits of the facility.
The committee chair agreed to request a review by the Office of the Auditor General.
“This is detrimental. This affects so many lives. People are dying in these prisons, and we need to take action,” said Rep. Reggie Miller. “We treat animals better than what we have these individuals.”
Statement from House Oversight Committee Chair Jay DeBoyer
“True government oversight knows no political affiliation, and our panel is committed to working in a bipartisan way to uncover truth, ensure state government and its departments are operating efficiently, and develop policy solutions for problems. We will continue doing this vital work for the people. Incarcerated people are still people. When Michigan says an individual is going to be incarcerated and in the state’s custody, the state then has a responsibility to ensure that person’s well-being. That’s the bottom line. The testimony we heard showed instances where this facility fell short. It’s my understanding that problems have persisted at this facility for decades. Why has it been allowed to continue while we appropriate billions of dollars to MDOC in the budget? While an overwhelming number of MDOC workers do their jobs professionally and with grace, we need to hear from leaders at MDOC about unacceptable conduct that has reportedly taken place. These answers are critical to making sure tragedies like what we heard about today don’t happen again.”,