3/25/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN - The Michigan Department of Corrections is working to make prisons safer. A five-part Safe Prisons Initiative supports ongoing efforts across 26 prisons, including facilities in the U.P.  MDOC says the five key areas that impact prison safety are prisoner classification and bed space, contraband introduction and technology, prisoner programming, training and staff support and recruitment and retention.  Staffing continues to be an issue in the Michigan prison system.  The U.P. only sees about 18 to 22 new academy applicants each quarter, who are then divided between the six prisons in the region.