Whistleblowers allege abusive culture at Huron Valley Women’s Correctional Facility

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Allegations of misconduct made at the Ypsilanti region prison

Sexual abuse allegations emerge from the Huron Valley Women’s Correctional Facility after two former employees say they were fired for speaking out about the culture.

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Two former workers at a women’s prison near Ypsilanti have said they were fired after trying to report some of the abuse they witnessed inside.

In response, they are using the power of a lawyer and the protesters’ displeasure to draw attention to the drama unfolding within the Huron Valley Women’s Correctional Facility in Pittsfield Charter Township.

“Just because they’re being detained doesn’t mean they’re not being treated with dignity or respect,” attorney Dion Webster-Cox said.

“Their offices were totally trashed and they were told they had been released, so I’m here because they came forward. I said ‘no, we’re human. We cannot allow this to happen to them,” she said.

Cox is representing the two former employees, who say they went public with acts of sexual abuse they witnessed at the facility.

“Ethically, morally and legally, I am responsible. I cannot turn my head when it comes to injustices that are committed. If I see someone, something, someone who is helpless, who is being harassed , reprimanded – if I turn my head, I’m no better than the abuser,” a former employee said.

Another said he saw one of them having sex with a cleaner.

“I didn’t know Orange is the New Black and Wentworth were set in Michigan, I thought they were just TV shows,” Webster-Cox said. “We know this has happened in the past. I know in Michigan in 2009 millions of dollars were paid out to respond to these allegations.”

The Michigan Department of Corrections declined to comment on the ongoing litigation brought by Webster-Cox.

They said in a statement that “MDOC does not retaliate and has zero tolerance for sexual harassment and violence. Our drug treatment program helps reduce serious opioid addictions for inmates who come to us and their gives them a greater chance of success against their addiction when they are released.”

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On Sunday, dozens expressed disgust at the allegations. An organizer said he would not tolerate injustice against women.

According to Webster-Cox, the whistleblowers faced retaliation after the department learned of their intention to notify higher authorities of the mistreatment within the prison. This includes the allegation that the prison fostered a culture of rape as punishment.

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