Here we go again. The system that legislators love to “count on” to keep people safe behind bars is undercutting that trust from the inside out.
According to recent reporting, a corrections officer at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility has been charged with multiple felony counts of criminal sexual conduct for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with incarcerated individuals.
When a person with power over those locked inside abuses that power, the repercussions ripple far beyond any individual case.
Why This Matters
- Power imbalance is built in.
A corrections officer holds authority, access, and custody over people in confinement which both demands accountability and sets the stage for exploitation. - Vulnerable people are involved.
Those behind bars have limited ability to report or resist misconduct. When someone sworn to protect turns predator, the harm is magnified. - The public trust is eroded.
We don’t just worry about one bad actor; we face the systemic question: If the guardhouse isn’t guarded, then who is? - Reform isn’t optional.
Every time there’s a scandal like this, the argument for “just one bad apple” is tired. It’s about culture, oversight, and system design; not individual happenstance.
What Must Be Asked — And Changed
There is SO much to this that needs to change; DOC has let things go way too far for way too long. Here’s where I think we should start:
- Screening & training: Who gets hired? What psychological evaluation or oversight is there for officers with direct access to the incarcerated?
- Reporting & whistleblower protection: Are inmates and staff empowered to report misconduct without retaliation? How transparent are investigations?
- Oversight mechanisms: Does the DOC conduct routine audits of sexual misconduct, contraband trafficking, and abuse of power, and are findings made public?
- Culture from the top: Leadership matters. If a corrections agency tolerates or overlooks abusive behavior, it sends a message: people are not safe here.
The Takeaway
This isn’t just “another bad guy got charged.” It’s a reminder that justice systems, especially custodial systems, are only as safe as their weakest link. And when those links fail, the fallout is devastating: for victims, for families, and for public safety.
As we read about this case, let’s not look away. We need to demand real accountability. Not token statements, not internal memos, REAL, legitimate structural change.
If you care about human rights, safe incarceration practices, or simply ensuring that power is not unchecked, you should care about this.
Because the promise of safety behind bars means everyone inside and outside should be protected, not exploited.
