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
March 30, 2026
Q&A: NC's prison system is struggling to pay its bills and keep a safe staffing level
The legislature’s budget stalemate has hit North Carolina’s prison system hard, making it difficult to pay bills and keep enough staff to safely operate its 55 facilities.
Starting pay for correctional officers is $37,000 a year, or about $18 an hour – the second lowest in the country. That’s made it hard to fill thousands of vacant positions and resulted in major safety concerns.
The agency hasn’t received an increase in its operating budget to keep pace with inflation (something that normally happens when the legislature passes a budget).
The prison system also has $1.4 billion in deferred maintenance needs, from unairconditioned buildings to dysfunctional fire alarms.
Read ArticleMarch 30, 2026
Federal Trial Opens Over Lack of Air-Conditioning in Texas Prisons
A federal judge in Austin will soon decide whether the lack of air-conditioning for inmates inside Texas prisons during the sweltering summer heat amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
After years of legal wrangling, the case against Texas went to trial on Monday in what lawyers said was one of the most far-reaching attempts in the nation to force a state to air-condition its prison system.
Other states, particularly in the South, have faced legal challenges over heat in prisons. But the demands in the Texas case, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman, are more extensive.
Read ArticleMarch 23, 2026
Michigan launches ambitious plan to address prison violence and officer shortages
The Michigan Department of Corrections is taking measures to improve safety and security inside the state’s prisons and address the departments shortage of correctional officers.
The initiative identifies five key areas that impact prison safety: prisoner classification and bed space; contraband introduction and technology; prisoner programming; training and staff support; and recruitment and retention.
In addition, the department will be implementing new tactics to improve employee recruitment and retention such as emerging leader development, hiring process enhancements, and improved marketing strategies.
The staffing crisis in Michigan’s prisons has led to an explosion of overtime hours clocked by the state’s correctional officers.
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