On July 2nd 2026, Dalephenia Jones became the fifth woman to die at Women’s Huron Valley Corrections Facility since November 2025, when Jennifer Wallace died due to medical neglect. In the past 6 weeks, Khaira Howard, Rebecca Fackler and Ashley Hoath have all died under similar circumstances. Women’s Huron Valley, which was overcrowded at its inception, has been plagued with complaints of severe exposure to mold, women being denied medical treatment and not having access to wheelchairs and missing meals as a result, strip searches as a form of retaliation against the women by guards, in addition to previous cases of medical neglect.

Director of Michigan Department of Corrections Heidi Washington has refused to accept responsibility for these deaths and the inhumane conditions at Women’s Huron Valley. 

With the 5th death being reported on July 2nd, it’s beyond time for action. We won’t stand by and watch this happen. The people of Michigan will protect the women of Huron Valley!

For months, families and community members have been rallying, forcing oversight hearings, and raising this issue to the point that state lawmakers have also demanded Heidi Washington be fired, and warden Jeremy Howard has been placed on leave. Despite this progress, Governor Whitmer has allowed women to continue dying.

 

We, the undersigned residents of Michigan, demand that the State of Michigan:

 

1. Fire MDOC Director Heidi Washington
2. Release and provide emergency care to all medically frail women in Women’s Huron Valley Prison
3. Permanently shut down Women’s Huron Valley Prison

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