For too long, Michigan lawmakers have been blocked from performing one of their most basic oversight duties: inspecting the prisons we fund, without giving days of advance notice. A 2022 rule forced legislators to provide 72 hours’ notice before visiting any correctional facility—time that allows problems to be cleaned up, hidden, or disguised before anyone in power gets a real look.

That’s why a new bill from State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky would restore lawmakers’ right to unannounced prison visits—and finally put that right into state law. This is about accountability and transparency. And it's about protecting the basic dignity and safety of incarcerated people and correctional staff alike.

Unannounced visits are a common-sense tool used in many oversight settings: from food safety inspections to child welfare checks. Michigan’s prisons should not be an exception—especially when reports of unsafe staffing levels, poor morale, and increasing tensions behind bars are on the rise.

Some officials argue this bill might interfere with prison operations or pose risks. But Rep. Pohutsky’s bill is clear: it doesn’t allow lawmakers to break rules, disrupt staff, or enter restricted areas without cause. It simply removes the power to turn them away at the gate. The Department of Corrections can still guide what areas are safe to visit. But they can’t shield themselves from scrutiny just because they fear bad press.

We, the undersigned, believe public oversight is not a threat—it’s a duty. When legislators can walk into a prison unannounced, they get an honest picture of what’s happening. That’s how change begins.

Sign this petition to support Rep. Pohutsky’s bill. Tell the Michigan Legislature that transparency can’t wait 72 hours.