As part of the Michigan Department of Corrections’ Safe Prisons Initiative, five Upper Peninsula correctional facilities will soon offer new correctional officer recruits about $10,000 more in annual pay. (Courtesy photo)

LANSING – Five Upper Peninsula correctional facilities are offering an increased pay rate of about $10,000 more a year for new corrections officer recruits as the Michigan Department of Corrections seeks to address persistent staffing shortages.

Under the department’s Safe Prisons Initiative, new officer recruits at the Marquette Branch Prison, Baraga Correctional Facility, Alger Correctional Facility, Kinross Correctional Facility and Chippewa Correctional Facility will start at $28.24 an hour, an increase from $23.45.

The increased rate reflects the base compensation officers typically receive after two years of service.

The selected facilities were chosen based on current staff vacancy rates and their designation as being in a hard-to-recruit region of the state, according to MDOC.

At Alger Correctional Facility in Munising, staffing shortages have remained a persistent problem.

Deputy Warden Patty Hubble from the Alger Correctional Facility said the prison right now is operating with only 60% of its staff positions filled, reflecting a 40% vacancy rate.

Hubble said the staffing shortage at the facility has been ongoing for about six years.

The issue extends beyond a single facility. MDOC data shows 668 of 1,201 employee departures in the 2025 fiscal year were corrections officers. Of those, 382 were voluntary departures, with 110 occurring within the first year on the job.

Timothy Eklin, a professor of criminal justice at Ferris State University, told the Spartan Newsroom in 2024 that changing workforce expectations have contributed to recruitment and retention challenges in corrections.

“Millennials and Gen Z value work-life balance a bit more than Baby Boomers and Xers,” Eklin said.

He added that a shrinking working-age population has created a “perfect storm” of labor shortages in these particular jobs.

MDOC officials said the wage increase is expected to strengthen both recruitment and retention efforts.

“We are confident this incentive will be a strong tool for hiring in Upper Peninsula regions where recruitment has historically been challenging due to a variety of factors,” said MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington. “Officers currently at these worksites are working tirelessly to operate their facilities in a safe and secure way around the clock. We are optimistic that this change, along with other components of the Safe Prison Initiative, will provide relief to staff and create safer facilities.”

Regarding current officers, MDOC said, “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, who represents current MDOC officers, and plans to stay actively engaged with the union on those discussions.”

Along with the increased pay, officers will continue to receive comprehensive benefits from the State of Michigan such as health, vision and dental insurance; paid time off and parental leave; 401(k) with employer match; and more.

“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,” said Deputy Director of Correctional Facilities Administration Jeremy Bush. “We know these facilities need the additional support, and we are excited to see qualified local community members step up and heed the call.”

The Safe Prisons Initiative identifies five key areas that have an impact on the safety of prisons: prisoner classification and bed space; contraband introduction and technology; prisoner programming; training and staff support; and recruitment and retention.

The department is actively recruiting for its next Northern Region Officer Academy, which begins July 20 in Kincheloe. Recruits who are hired for the academy will receive the increased rate of pay on day one.

The academy includes eight weeks of intensive, paid training followed by eight weeks of on-the-job training at a facility.

MDOC will host these upcoming hiring events at the affected facilities —

— Marquette Branch Prison: Today and Aug. 4, 2 to 6 p.m. Eastern time at 1960 U.S. 41 S., Marquette.

— Baraga Correctional Facility: Wednesday and Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time at 13924 Wadaga Road, Baraga.

— Alger Correctional Facility: Thursday and July 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time at N6141 Industrial Park Drive, Munising.

— Chippewa and Kinross Correctional Facilities: June 17 and July 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time at Northern Region Training Center, 16708 S. Avon St., Kincheloe.

Each facility is recruiting correctional officers, mental health and health care professionals, as well as candidates for other open positions, though the pay increase detailed above only applies to correctional officers.

Staff will be available on-site to provide application assistance for all available positions.

Prospective corrections officers can also complete an interview and physical training test during each event. Participants should bring a change of clothes; gym shoes, shorts and a T-shirt are recommended.

Attendees should bring three references, work history and a valid form of identification.

For more information, contact the recruitment office at 517-249-4119.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.