Progress Mi Says State Poorly Monitored Aramark

A liberal advocacy group says government documents show the state failed to address almost half the reported 3,707 issues with Michigan’s outgoing prison food vendor, Aramark Correctional Services.

Lonnie Scott of Progress Michigan says state Department of Corrections documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show nearly 1,800 reported issues with Aramark went unresolved.

He says the report calls into question Governor Rick Snyder’s administration’s oversight of any private contracts.

But Chris Gautz of the MDOC says the 25,000 documents Progress Michigan reviewed are a testament to the work of state monitors.

He says if the state didn’t monitor Aramark, there would have been no material for Progress Michigan to base its report.

Progress Michigan is calling for the attorney general to investigate Aramark and the state’s monitoring of the contract to make sure no civil violations exist.