March 28, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2025
MDOC Contact: Jenni Riehle, Riehlej2@michigan.gov
LANSING, Mich – The Michigan Department of Corrections celebrated a new class of graduates from the Lower Peninsula Officer Recruit Training Academy today in Lansing. The full statewide Winter class is comprised of 264 new officers.
The Lower Peninsula Recruit Academy graduation took place on March 28 at the Lansing Center and recognized 224 new officers. These new officers will help to reduce vacancies at facilities across the state and help to continue keeping communities safe.
“We are excited this sizeable class of recruits has completed their academy training and are ready to begin serving across Michigan,” said MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington. “We are incredibly proud to welcome them to the department along with their 40 counterparts in the Northern Region cohort class who graduated last month. I thank them all for choosing a career in corrections.”
This Lower Peninsula Academy, when combined with the Northern Region Academy that graduated in February, will follow the trend of the Fall Recruit Academy, which was the largest seen in roughly 9 years. MDOC has undertaken significant recruitment efforts such as increasing the number of recruitment events, implementing targeted outreach strategies, and developing marketing campaigns to increase interest in the department.
The academy class started their 8-week intensive training in early February. During the academy students receive significant hands-on training focused on physical drills, search procedures, CPR and first-aid, de-escalation techniques, and other skills required to be a qualified corrections officer. Michigan’s corrections officer recruit training is considered some of the most comprehensive in the nation.
New recruits will earn a minimum starting pay of $22.77 per hour on their first day of class, and will be eligible to make $68,500 per year, before overtime, in three and a half years. In addition, they will have the added value of state benefits such as health and dental care, retirement, and discounts for higher education.
The department is currently recruiting for the next Northern Region training academy which will begin on April 14, 2025 and the Lower Peninsula training academy which will begin on April 28, 2025.
Facilities are hiring corrections officers, mental health and health care staff, and other positions. Information on upcoming recruitment events, as well as information on minimum eligibility requirements, salary, and benefits, can be found at www.michigan.gov/mdocjobs.
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