Michigan Department of Corrections

Michigan Department of Corrections The official page of the Michigan Department of Corrections. Most convicted offenders are not, however, sent to prison.

All adults and juveniles sentenced as adults convicted of offenses for which the statutory maximum is more than one year can be sentenced to the state's prison system which is under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Corrections. Instead, most are supervised locally through probation while others are given a sentence of up to one year in a county jail. Probation supervision is provided

by the department and by various Circuit Courts. Qualified offenders may be sentenced to Specialized Alternative Incarceration - a re-entry program that enhances their chances of success in the community - as a condition of their probation. Convicted offenders who have served time in prison can be, if eligible, paroled. Parole is a period of supervision in the community.

Spectrum News: "More than 150 higher education and corrections leaders gathered at Calvin University in Grand Rapids Thu...
06/06/2026

Spectrum News: "More than 150 higher education and corrections leaders gathered at Calvin University in Grand Rapids Thursday for a statewide conference focused on expanding college programs inside Michigan prisons.

According to the RAND Corporation, every dollar spent on prison education saves taxpayers $4-$5. Incarcerated people who participate in educational programs are 43% less likely to return to prison after release.

Today, 14 Michigan colleges operate programs in 15 correctional facilities, serving more than 1,300 students."

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MDOC education leaders, wardens, and Director Washington were glad to join higher education partners and several formerly incarcerated graduates to participate in a conference hosted by the Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison and Calvin University.

The value of sharing insights and planning for future expansion was apparent to all who attended.

Last weekend, the MDOC Black Knights hockey team participated in a charity hockey tournament, hitting the ice with other...
06/05/2026

Last weekend, the MDOC Black Knights hockey team participated in a charity hockey tournament, hitting the ice with other Jackson-area law enforcement agencies to raise funds to support a local family who recently suffered a tragic house fire. The event raised $7,700 dollars for the family!

Team Captain Aaron Lashley (RGC) said, "MDOC made it to the final and couldn’t find the net enough! We lost 4-2 in the final! We had so much fun, a lot of laughs, memories! Until next year!"

Field Training Officer Karyn Cloudman was recently presented a Recruitment Coin in recognition of her outstanding suppor...
06/05/2026

Field Training Officer Karyn Cloudman was recently presented a Recruitment Coin in recognition of her outstanding support during recent training and hiring efforts in the Upper Peninsula. It was presented by Lt. Downs and the Northern Training Regional Training Center and Recruitment team.

They shared that FTO Cloudman, based at Newberry Correctional Facility, sets a high bar in her approach to training. Her professionalism and patience in developing recruits have helped shape a stronger and more confident workforce.

The guidance she provides new employees doesn’t just prepare them for the job; it establishes skills, habits, and confidence. She does that with a readiness to step in wherever she’s needed and openly share her experiences.

Yesterday, 27 corrections officer recruits graduated from the Northern Region Training Academy, completing 8 weeks of ac...
06/04/2026

Yesterday, 27 corrections officer recruits graduated from the Northern Region Training Academy, completing 8 weeks of academy training and taking their oath of office!

Three members of the class are military veterans and were honored for their contributions to serving our country - Jalen Goc, Jessicca Gambino, and Aiden Henry.

The class awards were presented as follows: Josephine McCollum Award to Officer Steven Griel, Jack Budd award to Officer Chantel Nichols, and the Academic Award was a tie between Officer Chantel Nichols and Officer Justin Snyder!

KJ Johnson has had a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for 26 years, owning three of his own semi-truck rigs over the y...
06/04/2026

KJ Johnson has had a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for 26 years, owning three of his own semi-truck rigs over the years. He’s been an instructor at the Vocational Village at Parnall Correctional Facility since its opening, sharing his professional experiences with prisoners earning their own CDL.

KJ says the CDL program is worthwhile because basically every other trade touches a truck in some way. The CDL credential is stackable with other Voc Village trades like tree trimming, diesel mechanics, and building trades.

Apart from the technical aspects of his course, Mr. Johnson focuses on teaching attentIon to detail (did notice what real-time practice of this he had written on the whiteboard when we visited?), soft skills, and setting realistic expectations.

He says the class of typically 16 men at a time is always “hungry” to learn and do more. He focuses on selecting students who are the “right students for the right course at the right time.”

With the success KJ’s students have had - reentering and finding roles with MDOT, Waste Management, and owning their own trucks – it’s safe to say that we can add
that he is ‘the right instructor” to that equation.

[MILESTONES IN CORRECTIONS, 25 YEARS] A lifelong U.P. resident, Prison Counselor Ryan Knaus learned about the correction...
06/03/2026

[MILESTONES IN CORRECTIONS, 25 YEARS] A lifelong U.P. resident, Prison Counselor Ryan Knaus learned about the corrections opportunities in the region early on. He applied and patiently waited two years before getting the call to start.

PC Knaus began his career at Alger Correctional Facility as a corrections officer, working his way up several roles throughout the years. Today, over 25 years later, he still serves at LMF with the same steady commitment he brought in on day one.

Ryan spent his first six years as an officer before moving into leadership roles, including sergeant, arsenal sergeant, and acting lieutenant. Through the changes he faced in the department, and changes in his own life, he has stayed grounded.

One personal challenge was facing a cancer diagnosis while raising and supporting a family. That learned resilience shows up every day as he supports men incarcerated at Alger on a wide range of needs - like case management, classification analysis, long and short-term goal‑setting, and day‑to‑day concerns.

He shared, “It can be demanding and stressful, but you can and will make meaningful impact in your facility. It is important to grow and evolve with the department; it helps keep the routine from becoming mundane.”

Twenty‑five years into his career, he continues to find ways to make it rewarding through the impact he brings to the facility every day.

Passionate and committed to the work she does, Corporal Candace Johnson is usually part of the team at the Special Alter...
06/02/2026

Passionate and committed to the work she does, Corporal Candace Johnson is usually part of the team at the Special Alternative Incarceration (SAI) program at Women's Huron Valley. But recently, we caught up with her during her latest stint as a Field Training Officer at the lower peninsula academy to hear about her path and why she is dedicated to corrections.

SAI is a 90-day intensive program that focuses on improving negative behaviors to help participants find direction. Cpl. Johnson has seen the program work again and again - seeing tangible change in the women she supervises.

Knowing each of them will reenter their community in 90 days or less makes her committed to putting her heart into her work. She has a special interest in health and fitness and has shared about the vital connections between body, mind, and overall wellness with the women in SAI.

She emphasizes that putting on the uniform does not make her "superwoman" but instead necessitates setting a good example. She finds that mindset helpful when giving direction to SAI trainees and during her time as an instructor at the academy.

Reflecting on when she started to pursue her career in corrections, Cpl. Johnson remembers a strong desire to get people the resources they need to live better. She says her parents and friends weren't sure she was making the right choice when she began as an officer at WHV.

But today, she is confident she is actively guiding the women in SAI toward bettering themselves and their families - and she says her parents are now very proud of the impact she is making.

06/02/2026

Passionate and committed to the work she does, Corporal Candace Johnson is usually part of the team at the Special Alternative Incarceration (SAI) program at Women's Huron Valley. But recently, we caught up with her during her latest stint as a Field Training Officer at the lower peninsula academy to hear about her path and why she is dedicated to corrections.

SAI is a 90-day intensive program that focuses on improving negative behaviors to help participants find direction. Cpl. Johnson has seen the program work again and again - seeing tangible change in the women she supervises.

Knowing each of them will reenter their community in 90 days or less makes her committed to putting her heart into her work. She has a special interest in health and fitness and has shared about the vital connections between body, mind, and overall wellness with the women in SAI.

She emphasizes that putting on the uniform does not make her "superwoman" but instead necessitates setting a good example. She finds that mindset helpful when giving direction to SAI trainees and during her time as an instructor at the academy.

Reflecting on when she started to pursue her career in corrections, Cpl. Johnson remembers a strong desire to get people the resources they need to live better. She says her parents and friends weren't sure she was making the right choice when she began as an officer at WHV.

But today, she is confident she is actively guiding the women in SAI toward bettering themselves and their families - and she says her parents are now very proud of the impact she is making.

New U.P. Corrections Officers at designated facilities can start at a higher pay rate on day one! Those facilities are M...
06/01/2026

New U.P. Corrections Officers at designated facilities can start at a higher pay rate on day one! Those facilities are Marquette Branch Prison, Kinross Correctional Facility, Chippewa Correctional Facility, Baraga Correctional Facility, and Alger Correctional Facility.

Deputy Director of Correctional Facilities Administration Jeremy Bush: “The increased pay rate will help the department compete for qualified staff within the local job market where we have noticed a variety of barriers such as housing availability and population demographics.

This increase provides a strong incentive for men and women in the U.P. to join our department’s mission and we look forward to welcoming them as part of the MDOC team. We know these facilities need the additional support and we are excited to see qualified local community members step up and heed the call.”

It is the department’s desire that current officers at the selected facilities who are currently below the $28.24 hourly pay rate will be brought up to the increased wage. The department has initiated communication with the Michigan Corrections Organization and plans to stay actively engaged with the union on those discussions.

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Lansing, MI

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+15173351426

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