MARQUETTE — State Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) toured the Alger Correctional Facility on Monday to assess problems faced by Upper Peninsula prisons and the corrections officers who work in them.

A few of these issues cited in a press release included understaffing that leads to mandatory double-shifts, and the dangerous working conditions that exist as a result.

“My visit to the Alger Correctional Facility underscored the urgent need to address the understaffing crisis plaguing (U.P.) prisons,” Hill said. “Corrections officers are stretched to the limit, working double shifts in conditions that compromise both their safety and the effective management of these facilities. This is unsustainable. I’m proud to have introduced legislation that removes unnecessary barriers to recruitment and advocates for pension reform to ensure our corrections officers receive the support they need and deserve.”

Hill introduced House Bill 5912 to the Michigan legislature on Aug. 15 in order to bolster recruitment efforts by eliminating certain education requirements that corrections officers must complete for certification. She strongly supports corrections officers and recently joined them in the picket lines in protest of their poor working conditions, according to the release.

Hill has also been a staunch supporter of legislation to make corrections officers eligible to participate in the State Police Retirement System hybrid pension plan, which she introduced in the House.

For more information regarding Michigan legislation, please visit legislature.mi.gov.