BUSTED: Jackson Guard Smuggles Buprenorphine Into Michigan Prison

Jackson resident and Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) officer Joshua Evans, 48, is now facing the kind of legal trouble that might just make him wish he’d stuck to playing it straight. According to a press release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel‘s office, Evans was arraigned in Jackson, Michigan’s 12th District Court, after he was caught smuggling narcotics into the Parnall Correctional Facility.

Jackson Prison Guard Faces Two Felony Charges For Drug Smuggling

A prisoner in chains struggles to resist a pile of illegal drugs in front of them

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It seems Evans may have mistaken his Corrections badge for a “get out of jail free” card and now faces some hefty charges. According to Nessel, Evans is charged with one count of Delivery/Manufacture of Schedule 1, 2, and 3 Controlled Substances (except for the big four–Marijuana, Meth, Ecstasy, and Cocaine), which could land him up to seven years bunking with the prisoners he used to guard.

RELATED: What is the Leading Cause of Death in Michigan Prisons?

Evans is dealing with more than just that. He is also facing another charge of Bringing Contraband into Prisons, which could add another five years to his staycation. Both charges are felonies.

How Michigan State Police Busted Jackson, Michigan Prison Guard

A sign reading “HEROES AT WORK” sits outside the Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan

Michigan.gov

It all went down on July 11, when Evans was allegedly caught with 151 strips of Buprenorphine–brand name Suboxone–in the visiting room at the Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan. That’s right, he wasn’t even trying to be sneaky about it!

In the event you’re unfamiliar, Buprenorphine is a Schedule 3 substance, often used to treat opioid addiction–though I’m guessing drug treatment wasn’t in Evans’s job description.

Attorney General’s Office Seeking to Send a Message to Michigan’s Prison Guards

A sign reading “PRISON AREA DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS” in Michigan

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Attorney General Dana Nessel didn’t mince words, pointing out that smuggling narcotics into a prison not only endangers lives but also completely undermines rehabilitation efforts. She assured the public that her department will work tirelessly to maintain the integrity of Michigan’s correctional facilities.

RELATED: Michigan’s Prison Population Growth Compared to Rest of US

Evans is due back in court on August 16 at 1 p.m. for a Probable Cause Conference. According to MLive, he is currently free on a $2,000 bond. Meanwhile, we’re left to wonder: what on earth was he thinking?

How Understaffed Are America’s Prisons? New Research Revealed

H&P Law examined data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2023 and the Bureau of Justice Statistics from 2022 to determine the number of correctional officers and compare that to the number of prisoners in each state (Rhode Island data unavailable). Let’s countdown to the state with the poorest staffing within prisons and jails.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

America Behind Bars: State Rankings for Prison Population Growth

With many states experiencing corrections officer shortages and no shortage of criminals willing to land themselves behind bars, some states are closely monitoring prison populations and searching for solutions. Other states have thrown caution to the wind and more lawbreakers into prison, with a southern state leading the way, growing its incarcerated population by over 14% from 2021 to 2022, according to a study conducted by H&P Law. Let’s countdown to the state with the largest percentage growth of residents housed in prison.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

The 1952 Jackson, Michigan Prison Riot

Protesting harsh treatment, poor medical care, and bad food, inmates of Jackson’s Michigan State Prison held 9 guards hostage for 5 days of riots in April 1952.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow