Head of Michigan Prisons Claims Responsibility for Recent Prisoner Escape

The head of Michigan's prison system took responsibility for a recent prisoner escape. Corrections Department Director Dan Heyns testified in front of Michigan legislators on Thursday and said some monitoring equipment that hadn't been maintained properly was partially at fault.

According to WNEM, Heyns also said he believed the technology was in place to prevent the escape but declined to get into specifics due to an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General's office. Heyns did say that he is speeding up the upgrade of surveillance cameras and lighting at the Ionia prison. He's also reviewing snow removal policies and the color of inmates' clothing. Heyns also said budget cuts weren't a factor to the escape.

The prisoner who escaped, Michael David Elliott, was a convicted murderer. After carjacking a woman, he was eventually apprehended in Indiana after a high speed chase. A request for his return to Michigan was submitted to Indiana's governor on Wednesday.