Notes of Encouragement for Incarcerated Citizens
The Lifelines for MCI Project
March 29, 2020: an MCI staff member tests positive for COVID-19, becoming the first reported case of COVID-19 in Ohio's prisons
April 3, 2020: MCI reports the first case of COVID-19 among people incarcerated in Ohio's prisons
April 10, 2020: MCI reports 11 people incarcerated and 44 staff members have tested positive
April 17, 2020: MCI reports 365 people incarcerated and 99 staff members have tested positive
April 18, 2020: MCI reports 1,075 people incarcerated and 103 staff members have tested positive
April 23, 2020: MCI reports 2,028 people incarcerated and 169 staff members have tested positive
June 4, 2020: fourteen people incarcerated at MCI and one staff member have died of COVID-19-related illnesses.
On April 24, 2020, Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) became the largest known source of COVID-19 infection in the U.S. At the outbreak's peak, nearly 75% (2,028) of the incarcerated fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands, as well as 177 MCI staff members tested positive for COVID-19. All programming in the prison and visits from family and friends have been shut down; the National Guard has been filling in for prison staff. As of June 4, 2020, fourteen people incarcerated at MCI and one staff member have died of COVID-related illness.
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By mid-May, people incarcerated at MCI were no longer being tested for COVID-19. On May 18, 2020, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections started transferring incarcerated people from county jails to state prisons again in what ODRC spokesperson JoEllen Smith described as a "gradual, controlled manner," limiting "the county sheriffs to a total of 50 inmates each day." (Marion Star)
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Incarcerated people are frustrated, scared, and eager to receive word from the outside. They report continued confusion, concern, and trauma as they've cared for each other with limited access to medical and cleaning supplies (Human Rights Watch).
While movement inside the prison is restricted, men are also separated from many of the support networks they've built inside. Visits with family and friends, programming, and classes that support their psychological, intellectual, spiritual, and creative explorations and growth have also been suspended.
Let the people stuck in the middle of this confusion know that they have not been forgotten by sharing messages or inspirational quotations that could help inspire, distract, or encourage. ​Several times each week, we collect them into electronic newsletters, and send them through Jpay to everyone on our mailing list. We also send everyone at least one pre-paid response each week, and we post their replies on this site.
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Follow the "Send a Note" link to add your loved ones to the JPay mailing list, and to send some words of encouragement to the people inside.
You can do it more than once, even make it part of your daily routine!