Michigan House committee hears testimony alleging mold, drugs, lack of health care at women’s prison

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.