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.

The L.E.A.D. Academy - Learn Today, Empower Tomorrow, Aspire Beyond, Develop a Legacy - will strengthen staff developmen...
06/22/2026

The L.E.A.D. Academy - Learn Today, Empower Tomorrow, Aspire Beyond, Develop a Legacy - will strengthen staff development and support the next generation of MDOC leaders.

It's a four‑phase pathway built in partnership with Michigan State University to help employees grow their leadership skills through communication, professionalism, and ethical decision‑making

More than that, it's an investment in the people who keep our facilities safe and our mission moving forward.

When we met with Greg Balcom at a local park, he had just been riding the bus in downtown Muskegon, showing several men ...
06/22/2026

When we met with Greg Balcom at a local park, he had just been riding the bus in downtown Muskegon, showing several men on his parole caseload how to navigate the public transit system. That's one example of his dedication to solving problems, building honest relationships, and understanding challenges people on parole face.

Agent Balcom began this career with a focus on helping people in the immediate, giving resources to people who didn't have access to them. He has put that stance into practice with a deep knowledge of the mental and logistical struggles parolees face.

He recognizes that a lot of times anxiety about how to navigate the world looks like anger - and that few people who haven't been incarcerated can fully understand that anxiety. There are financial, health, and relationship hurdles to navigate.

For working through those barriers, Greg focuses on sincerity, transparency, and shattering the myths that your parole agent won't help you through struggles. He often resonates with the phrase "I know a guy" when clients bring up problems with substance use, budgeting, or jobs - connecting them to resources to help.

After we met with Agent Balcom, he was on his way to meet with another client who had spent 24 years in prison for armed robbery. Because of connections made in the local community, today that man is a pastor. His persistence in finding his path, with Greg's steadfast support, has helped him reach his goals.

Yesterday, the Lower Peninsula Academy celebrated the graduation of 174 new officers! Surrounded by family, friends, and...
06/17/2026

Yesterday, the Lower Peninsula Academy celebrated the graduation of 174 new officers! Surrounded by family, friends, and future colleagues, graduates proudly took their oath of office and officially joined the MDOC team.

Michigan’s corrections officer training program is among the most comprehensive in the nation, featuring an 8‑week academy followed by two months of on‑the‑job training. These recruits have learned essential skills like safety practices, communication, de‑escalation, legal standards, and more.

Recruitment is now in full swing for the next Officer Recruit Training Academies starting July 20. If you’re ready to make a difference, now is the time to join us.

The Daily Reporter recently got a behind-the-scenes look at the Kellogg Community College graduation at Lakeland Correc...
06/17/2026

The Daily Reporter recently got a behind-the-scenes look at the Kellogg Community College graduation at Lakeland Correctional Facility! These 23 men, earning associate degrees in business, are KCC's first to graduate while incarcerated!

Graduates, their loved ones, MDOC staff, and KCC faculty shared about the changes they'd seen as their learning and achievement progressed. A/Warden Russ Rurka said in his remarks, "this is an example of giving back, not giving up" for the men who accomplished this success.

See the full story in the comments.

[Part 3] Chad Poynter won the Director's Award for 2026, and here's the biggest reason why - he shared these thoughts hi...
06/16/2026

[Part 3] Chad Poynter won the Director's Award for 2026, and here's the biggest reason why - he shared these thoughts himself:

"A few years ago, I was hospitalized and ended up on life support with COVID. After spending 7 weeks fighting for survival, I ended up pulling through. Upon awaking I began to panic for my wife and kids, for my job, about bills and the mortgage.

Yet sitting for the first time in weeks, I observed that my wife was calm. I couldn't talk and could barely hold a pen to write, but she told me that my heroes - my brothers and sisters at Lakeland Correctional Facility - had paid our mortgage for the next three months. She told me they were taking care of me and my family. I began to get showered with get well cards, text and phone calls, and even emails from them.

This made me believe in goodness again in the world. This shook me to my core and changed me forever; I will spend the rest of my life trying to repay what they did for me and my family."

CPC Poynter has done many things to give back to the facility, the community, and those under his supervision. He has shone goodness into the world as a colleague, supervisor, and friend. He spent 7 months recovering after leaving the hospital but strove every day to get back to the family he'd found at LCF.

There are numbers like 32,000 lbs of produce donated or 72 prisoners he employs and invests in, but with his drive to pay it forward, Chad's impact has been immeasurable.

[Part 2] Chad Poynter won the Director's Award for 2026, here's another reason why:As the Corrections Program Coordinato...
06/15/2026

[Part 2] Chad Poynter won the Director's Award for 2026, here's another reason why:

As the Corrections Program Coordinator, Chad supervises personal development classes like Chance for Life, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and the National Lifers of America.

Two men who lead the Chance for Life program at LCF, a program focused on reentry and life skills, shared that CPC Poynter is dedicated, involved, and believes in rehabilitation. They said he has taken the program further than they could've hoped. Chad says the same, that seeing the progress prisoners in the programs make motivates him.

He tries to instill a belief-in-self to those he works with. The facilitators shared that one way he does this is by presenting graduation certificates with full names on them, not prisoner ID numbers.

He sets an example as someone who won't give up and will fill in where he is needed. They say that motivates them to take on that same mindset.

[Part 1] Chad Poynter won the Director's Award for 2026, here's one reason why:Chad is a Corrections Program Coordinator...
06/15/2026

[Part 1] Chad Poynter won the Director's Award for 2026, here's one reason why:

Chad is a Corrections Program Coordinator at Lakeland Correctional Facility. One big aspect of his work is managing the significant hobbycraft, personal, and landscape gardens at the facility. Last year, he and the incarcerated men who participate donated 31,896 pounds of produce to food banks, women's shelters, animal rescues, schools, and the local VA!

72 men are currently employed across the gardening programs, and CPC Poynter sees the calm and sense of purpose the gardens can bring to their daily lives. He listens to their expertise and collaborates in structuring the gardens for successful harvests. They've recently started a butterfly sanctuary garden for monarchs and have upkept the koi pond that's been at the facility for decades too.

In addition to the donations-based gardens, CPC Poynter supervises personal gardens, small plots where prisoners can select which seeds and plants they want to use based on an approved list. After tending their gardens, they can eat and enjoy the fresh produce.

Chad approaches the programs with a mind toward giving the men opportunities while still maintaining security. He develops honest, professional relationships with those who work under his program areas and selects applicants based on a record of positive behavior. He has gained significant respect due to those relationships which makes the programs fruitful for all.

Graduation season is off to strong start at the department with graduates from Calvin University, Hope College, Jackson ...
06/12/2026

Graduation season is off to strong start at the department with graduates from Calvin University, Hope College, Jackson College, and Kellogg Community College earning their diplomas.

These ceremonies are a special occasion, because graduates get to invite their loved ones to witness their achievement. The sense of accomplishment, personal and academic growth, and joy is almost palpable.

There are now 14 colleges and universities teaching in 15 Michigan prisons!

At Thumb Correctional Facility, Officers Spencer and Byassee were presented with Warden Coins of Achievement by Warden F...
06/11/2026

At Thumb Correctional Facility, Officers Spencer and Byassee were presented with Warden Coins of Achievement by Warden Fenner for discovering contraband during a recent search.

During the search, the facility brought in drug-sniffing dogs from nearby police departments to uncover illicit drugs. The officers joined the search and found significant amounts of THC wax - a highly concentrated cannabis extract - and other substances.

Officer Spencer, a 20-year veteran of the department, shared about finding a parcel of THC wax in the bottom of a trash can. After lifting the trash bag out to search, there was a food box soaked in cleaning supplies to hide the smell. He still detected there was likely contraband in the box. When it was safely opened later, it had a significant amount of the highly concentrated wax flattened and vacuum sealed.

He shared that his motivation for finding contraband is to keep those incarcerated and staff at the facility safe. He recalled that he has seen men display behavior dangerous to themselves and those around them when ingesting these substances, causing aggression or panic.

The partnership with local law enforcement, and these officers' diligence, were paramount to ensuring dangerous substances were confiscated and removed from the facility.

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Lansing, MI

Telephone

+15173351426

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