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Thanedar demands resignation of Michigan Corrections Director over prison deaths
Bipartisan criticism of Heidi Washington has intensified amid inmate deaths, staffing shortages and concerns over prison conditions in Michigan facilities.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 26, May 2026
- 16:56 EDT
- 35
Shri Thanedar / File Photo
Congressman Shri Thanedar on May 22 called for the resignation of Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington, citing concerns over prison conditions, staffing shortages and recent deaths in state correctional facilities.
In a statement, Thanedar said there had been four deaths in Michigan Department of Corrections facilities in the past month and accused the department of failing to address longstanding concerns related to prison conditions.
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“In the last month alone, there have been four deaths in Michigan Department of Corrections facilities that we know of,” Thanedar said. “This is not the first time serious issues in MDOC facilities have occurred, as numerous unions first called on Director Washington to resign in 2020 due to her mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Thanedar said the department has continued to face a chronic shortage of corrections officers and alleged that concerns raised by inmates’ families, lawmakers and community stakeholders have repeatedly been dismissed.
“In the richest country in the world, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity,” Thanedar said. “MDOC, under Director Washington’s leadership, is failing this fundamental goal. The evidence is clear: Director Washington must resign immediately before more harm is done.”
His remarks come amid growing criticism of Washington, who has led the Michigan Department of Corrections since 2015. More than 30 current and former Michigan lawmakers recently called for her resignation over conditions in state prisons, including at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti.
The Michigan Corrections Organization, which represents corrections officers in the state, has also criticized Washington’s leadership over staffing shortages and mandatory overtime. In 2020, the union accused the department of unsafe staffing levels and mishandling prison operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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