Michigan State Prisons

Overview

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates the state’s prison system, responsible for the incarceration of individuals convicted of state crimes. The system includes multiple correctional facilities with varying security levels and offers a range of programs aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.

Number of State Prisons

As of 2024, Michigan has 29 state prisons, including facilities for men and women, spread across the state.

Prison Management Structure

The MDOC is headed by a Director who oversees the administration of all correctional facilities. The department is divided into several divisions, including Field Operations, Correctional Facilities Administration, and the Parole Board.

Incarceration Rate

Michigan’s incarceration rate was approximately 590 per 100,000 residents as of the latest available data. This rate places Michigan above the national average in the United States.

Locating a Prisoner

To locate a prisoner within the Michigan prison system, individuals can use the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). This online database provides information on the status and location of inmates.

Family Visitation Rules

Visitation Scheduling

Family members must schedule visits in advance, typically through an online system or by contacting the facility directly.

Visitation Rules

Identification: Visitors must present a valid photo ID.
Dress Code: Appropriate attire is required; explicit or revealing clothing is prohibited.
Conduct: Physical contact is limited and monitored; inappropriate behavior can result in termination of the visit.

Classification of Prison Security Levels

Michigan prisons are classified into several security levels:

Level I: Minimum security
Level II: Low security
Level IV: Medium security
Level V: Maximum security
Level VI: Administrative segregation and intensive management

Parole and Factors Considered

The Michigan Parole Board considers several factors when making parole decisions:

Behavior: Inmate’s behavior and disciplinary record.
Rehabilitation: Participation in educational and vocational programs.
Risk Assessment: Evaluations of the risk to public safety.
Victim Impact Statements: Input from victims of the crime.
Reentry Plan: Plans for reintegration into society, including housing and employment.

Educational and Vocational Programs

Educational Programs

GED Preparation: Programs to help inmates earn a General Education Development certificate.
Adult Basic Education: Courses in basic literacy and math.
Post-Secondary Education: College courses are offered through partnerships with educational institutions.

Vocational Programs

Trade Skills: Training in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and welding.
Certifications: Opportunities to earn certifications in various fields to improve employability upon release.
Rehabilitative Programs
Substance Abuse Treatment
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT): In-depth programs for inmates with substance abuse issues.
Outpatient Programs: Less intensive treatment options are available within the prison.

Mental Health Services

Counseling: Individual and group therapy sessions.
Psychiatric Services: Access to psychiatric care and medication management.

Reentry Programs

Transitional Housing: Assistance in finding housing upon release.
Employment Services: Job readiness training and placement assistance.

Pros and Cons of the Michigan State Prison System

PROS

• Comprehensive Rehabilitative Programs: A wide range of educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs.
• Structured Parole Process: Detailed criteria and assessments for parole decisions.
• Family Engagement: Structured visitation rules to maintain family connections.

CONS

• High Incarceration Rate: Above national average, indicating potential overreliance on incarceration.
• Resource Limitations: Budget constraints can limit the availability and quality of programs.
• Overcrowding: Some facilities face issues with overcrowding, impacting conditions and rehabilitation efforts.

Michigan State Prison News (Local 4 WDIV – TV Detroit)

Eight prison workers, including a former warden and nurse, were charged by Michigan Attorney General in the 2019 death of a Michigan State Prison inmate:

Sources:

Michigan Department of Corrections. MDOC Official Website
OTIS – Offender Tracking Information System. Locate a Prisoner
Michigan Parole Board. Parole Process

MICHIGAN STATE PRISONS:

Enfield Correctional Institution

Enfield Correctional Institution
289 Shaker Road
Enfield, CT 06082

Telephone: (906)-387-5000

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Alger Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 600
Munising, MI 49862

Baraga Correctional Facility

Baraga Correctional Facility
13924 Wadaga Road
Baraga, MI 49908-9204

Telephone: (906)-353-7070

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Baraga Correctional Facility
13924 Wadaga Road
Baraga, MI 49908-9204

Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility

Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility
1727 West Bluewater Highway
Ionia, MI 48846

Telephone: (616)-527-2510

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility
1727 West Bluewater Highway
Ionia, MI 48846

Boyer Road Correctional Facility

Boyer Road Correctional Facility
10274 Boyer Road
Carson City, MI 48811

Telephone: (989)-584-3941

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Boyer Road Correctional Facility
10274 Boyer Road
Carson City, MI 48811

Central Michigan Correctional Facility

Central Michigan Correctional Facility
320 N. Hubbard
St. Louis, MI 48880

Telephone: (989)-681-6668

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Central Michigan Correctional Facility
320 N. Hubbard
St. Louis, MI 48880

Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center

Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center
3855 Cooper St.
Jackson, MI 49201-7547

Telephone: (517)-780-5600

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center
3855 Cooper St.
Jackson, MI 49201-7547

Chippewa Correctional Facility

Chippewa Correctional Facility
4269 W. M-80
Kincheloe, MI 49784

Telephone: (906)-495-2275

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Chippewa Correctional Facility
4269 W. M-80
Kincheloe, MI 49784

Cooper Street Correctional Facility

Cooper Street Correctional Facility
3100 Cooper St.
Jackson, MI 49201

Telephone: (517)-780-6175

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Cooper Street Correctional Facility
3100 Cooper St.
Jackson, MI 49201

Detroit Detention Center

Detroit Detention Center
17601 Mound Road
Detroit, MI 48212

Telephone: (313)-368-8300

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Detroit Detention Center
17601 Mound Road
Detroit, MI 48212

Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility

Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility
2500 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon Heights, MI 49444

Telephone: (231)-773-9200

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility
2500 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon Heights, MI 49444

G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility

G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility
3500 N. Elm Road
Jackson, MI 49201

Telephone: (517)-780-5000

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility
3500 N. Elm Road
Jackson, MI 49201

Gus Harrison Correctional Facility

Gus Harrison Correctional Facility
2727 East Beecher St.
Adrian, MI 49221

Telephone: (517)-265-3900

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Gus Harrison Correctional Facility
2727 East Beecher St.
Adrian, MI 49221

Ionia Correctional Facility

Ionia Correctional Facility
1576 W. Bluewater Highway
Ionia, MI 48846

Telephone: (616)-527-6331

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Ionia Correctional Facility
1576 W. Bluewater Highway
Ionia, MI 48846

Kinross Correctional Facility

Kinross Correctional Facility
16770 S. Watertower Drive
Kincheloe, MI 49788

Telephone: (906)-495-2282

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Kinross Correctional Facility
16770 S. Watertower Drive
Kincheloe, MI 49788

Lakeland Correctional Facility

Lakeland Correctional Facility
141 First St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

Telephone: (517)-278-6942

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Lakeland Correctional Facility
141 First St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

Macomb Correctional Facility

Macomb Correctional Facility
34625 26 Mile Rd.
New Haven, MI 48048

Telephone: (586)-749-4900

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Macomb Correctional Facility
34625 26 Mile Rd.
New Haven, MI 48048

Marquette Branch Prison

Marquette Branch Prison
1960 U.S. Hwy. 41 South
Marquette, MI 49855

Telephone: (906)-226-6531

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Marquette Branch Prison
1960 U.S. Hwy. 41 South
Marquette, MI 49855

Michigan Reformatory

Michigan Reformatory
1342 W. Main
Ionia, MI 48846

Telephone: (616)-527-2500

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Michigan Reformatory
1342 W. Main
Ionia, MI 48846

Muskegon Correctional Facility

Muskegon Correctional Facility
2400 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon, MI 49442

Telephone: (231)-773-3201

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Muskegon Correctional Facility
2400 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon, MI 49442

Newberry Correctional Facility

Newberry Correctional Facility
13747 E. County Road 428
Newberry, MI 49868

Telephone: (906)-293-6200

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Newberry Correctional Facility
13747 E. County Road 428
Newberry, MI 49868

Oaks Correctional Facility

Oaks Correctional Facility
1500 Caberfae Highway
Manistee, MI 49660

Telephone: (231)-723-8272

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Oaks Correctional Facility
1500 Caberfae Highway
Manistee, MI 49660

Ojibway Correctional Facility

Ojibway Correctional Facility
N 5705 Ojibway Road
Marenisco, MI 49947-9771

Telephone: (906)-787-2217

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Ojibway Correctional Facility
N 5705 Ojibway Road
Marenisco, MI 49947-9771

Parnall Correctional Facility

Parnall Correctional Facility
1780 E. Parnall
Jackson, MI 49201

Telephone: (517)-780-6004

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Parnall Correctional Facility
1780 E. Parnall
Jackson, MI 49201

Pugsley Correctional Facility

Pugsley Correctional Facility
7401 East Walton Road
Kingsley, MI 49649

Telephone: (231)-263-5253

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Pugsley Correctional Facility
7401 East Walton Road
Kingsley, MI 49649

Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility

Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility
1728 Bluewater Highway
Ionia, MI 48846

Telephone: (616)-527-3100

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility
1728 Bluewater Highway
Ionia, MI 48846

Saginaw Correctional Facility

Saginaw Correctional Facility
9625 Pierce Rd.
Freeland, MI 48623

Telephone: (989)-695-9880

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Saginaw Correctional Facility
9625 Pierce Rd.
Freeland, MI 48623

Special Alternative Incarceration Facility

Special Alternative Incarceration Facility
18901 Waterloo Rd.
Chelsea, MI 48118

Telephone: (734)-475-1368

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Special Alternative Incarceration Facility
18901 Waterloo Rd.
Chelsea, MI 48118

St. Louis Correctional Facility

St. Louis Correctional Facility
8585 N. Croswell Road
St. Louis, MI 48880

Telephone: (989)-681-6444

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​St. Louis Correctional Facility
8585 N. Croswell Road
St. Louis, MI 48880

Thumb Correctional Facility

Thumb Correctional Facility
3225 John Conley Drive
Lapeer, MI 48446

Telephone: (810)-667-2045

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Thumb Correctional Facility
3225 John Conley Drive
Lapeer, MI 48446

West Shoreline Correctional Facility

West Shoreline Correctional Facility
2500 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon Heights, MI 49444

Telephone: (231)-773-9200

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​West Shoreline Correctional Facility
2500 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon Heights, MI 49444

Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility

Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
3201 Bemis Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197-0911

Telephone: (734)-572-9900

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
3201 Bemis Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197-0911

Woodland Center Correctional Facility

Woodland Center Correctional Facility
9036 E. M-36
Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

Telephone: (734)-449-3320

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Woodland Center Correctional Facility
9036 E. M-36
Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

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