Michigan Prisoners Break Participation Records as State Expands Education Programs

Nearly 4,000 Inmates Complete Programs Last Year, Up 66% From 2020

Nearly 4,000 Michigan inmates completed educational and vocational programs last year, marking a 66% increase from 2020 as the state expanded access to training across its 26 correctional facilities.

About 11,000 of Michigan's 33,000 prisoners participated in programs last year, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. Enrollment has climbed over the same time frame.

The Michigan Department of Corrections has focused on increasing access to educational programs over the last decade. This has included developing and launching new career and technical education programs with support from the state budget, as well as expanding postsecondary programming with partner colleges and universities, thanks to the restoration of federal Pell Grants for those who are incarcerated.

Jenni Riehle, spokesperson for the MDOC, told Bridge Michigan.

Vocational Training Includes Welding, Robotics, Auto Repair

Programs in Michigan prisons range from high school equivalency and special education to trades like welding, robotics and commercial truck driving.

Last year, the department began transforming the Michigan State Industries factory at Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer into an educational center with the goal of providing postsecondary and career technical education to more than 800 inmates. The facility is expected to open by mid-2027.

We have seen that educational programming can create a positive focus within facilities, giving individuals a productive outlet for their time, which helps reduce behavioral incidents.

Riehle said.

Vocational Village Shows Lower Recidivism

Riehle also noted that inmates on parole who participated in Vocational Village, a specialized vocational program offered at Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia and Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, have a lower recidivism rate than the general prison population.

Partnerships With Colleges Expand Postsecondary Options

Michigan also partners with several colleges and universities to provide postsecondary education in state prisons, including:

• Jackson College
• Eastern Michigan University
• Calvin University
• Hope College
• Grand Valley State University
• Lake Superior State University
• Wayne State University

For the last 10 years, Jackson College has offered associate degrees and certificates at seven correctional facilities, including the federal prison in Milan.

Our goal is to make sure that our students complete a program and get a credential because thats what you do when you go to college. We work closely with our students to ensure that they are taking the right classes so theyre on track to get a completion, especially before they have a parole date, so they can walk out with that credential.

Lynn Wood, director of corrections education at Jackson College.

Wood recalled a former student who was promoted from an entry-level job to a management position in the food service industry because he earned his associate degree in business management while he was incarcerated.

Eastern Michigan University Offers First Bachelor's Degree to Incarcerated Women

Eastern Michigan University offers a bachelor's degree in general studies to women incarcerated at Huron Valley Correctional Facility, the states only women's prison in Washtenaw County, through its College in Prison program.

The program, primarily funded by a Pell Grant, launched in 2023 and hosted its first graduation ceremony in September for 12 incarcerated women who earned their bachelor's degrees.

Our goal is to provide a main campus experience as close as possible for our Womens Huron Valley Facility campus students. This means we have several student clubs, an annual Business Pitch Competition and students who annually present at EMUs Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Meghan Lechner, Director of the College in Prison & Returning Citizens Fellowship.

Currently, four students who began the program while incarcerated have transitioned to EMUs main campus to finish their degree.

Calvin University Offers Double Major Degree to Inmates

Calvin University also offers a double major bachelor's degree in faith and community leadership and human services at Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, through its prison initiative.

Since it began in 2015, 88 men have received their bachelor's degrees, and 18 are on track to graduate in May.

The programs aim to reduce recidivism and equip inmates with skills for employment and continued education after release. Congress reinstated eligibility for incarcerated individuals in 2020, ending a nearly 30-year ban that began with a 1994 crime bill.