We are in the midst of a profound crisis in our nation’s correctional system.
Across the country, our nation’s prisons are dangerously understaffed and overcrowded.
Policymakers must act now to protect the health and safety of correctional staff, incarcerated people, and the public at large.
Prisons across the country are dangerously understaffed, overcrowded, and plagued by rapidly deteriorating conditions.
One Voice United (OVU) and FAMM, two leading organizations representing correctional staff (OVU) and incarcerated people and their families (FAMM), have joined together to form the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign.
For too long, our constituencies have been pitted against one another while the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, and loved ones has suffered. While it may be surprising to some people that we would work together to draw attention to this crisis, we know our fates are intertwined and we have a shared goal of ensuring the health and safety of everyone who works and lives in prison.
EndorseFor too long, our constituencies have been pitted against one another while the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, and loved ones has suffered. While it may be surprising to some people that we would work together to draw attention to this crisis, we know our fates are intertwined and we have a shared goal of ensuring the health and safety of everyone who works and lives in prison.
SAFER PRISONS SAFER COMMUNITIES
In The News
April 25, 2026
Opinion: Prison reform doesn’t need to wait for tragedy
History does not only show us what happens when systems collapse. It shows us what happens when early warnings are ignored.
Today’s correctional challenges do not always look dramatic. In many systems, they appear incremental. Chronic staffing shortages become routine. Forced overtime replaces stability. Lockdowns interrupt daily operations. Education, treatment and vocational programs are trimmed back to keep posts covered.
Read ArticleApril 24, 2026
Michigan prisons ‘in a death spiral’ as officer vacancies, overtime pile up
Michigan Department of Corrections data shows chronic officer vacancies throughout all of Michigan’s 26 prisons, but no region has been hit harder than the UP, where a quarter of the state’s inmates are housed but nearly three-quarters of staff assaults happen.
Current and former corrections officers say that’s because a third or more of positions remain open. Insiders say overtime mandates have thinned the ranks of experienced officers, making the job potentially life-threatening for those who stay.
It’s a nationwide problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and no state has yet found a lasting solution. Pay raises and staff wellness programs haven’t worked, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. Some states have called in the National Guard to police prisons, while other states ponder drones.
Read ArticleApril 22, 2026
Growing staffing crisis at Vermont prison puts employees and inmates at risk, union says
A growing staffing crisis at a Vermont prison is continuing to put employees and inmates at risk, according to the Vermont State Employees Association. Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport currently employs 57 staff members. That’s much lower than the some 90 positions total.
VSEA says this is leading to mandatory overtime, burnout, and unsafe conditions for correctional officers and inmates. The union accuses politicians of all parties of not addressing the issue.
Read Article