Michigan Corrections Organization calls on National Guard due to staffing crisis in prisons

NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLUC) – The Michigan Corrections Organization has asked the National Guard for help with the staffing crisis in Michigan prisons.

Byron Osborn is the group’s president. He says five state facilities, including three in Uttar Pradesh – Baraga, Marquette and Munising – are 33 to 35 percent understaffed.

“That’s a staggering number of vacancies. These people are being asked to basically live in prison and work 16 hours a day, and that in turn exacerbates the problem because after a while people drop out and quit. They take other jobs, they choose their family life and their health over the sacrifice of devoting so much time and energy to the Department of Corrections,” Osborn said.

Osborn said the National Guard would provide detention in understaffed prisons.

Osborn added that he would like to see more funding directed toward correctional services.

“You have to model the benefits package after other agencies that are more successful at retaining people, and the other agencies I’m referring to are the federal correctional system,” Osborn said. “The Michigan State Police, for example, has hybrid pensions available as a means of retention. Retiree health insurance is something that correctional officers in Michigan no longer have.”

In a statement, the Michigan Department of Corrections said, “The situation facing MDOC staff continues to be challenging, but the solution is not a temporary measure such as deploying National Guardsmen who are not trained to operate in this environment. The Department and other stakeholders must continue to focus on efforts that can stabilize the staffing situation over the long term, including promoting the benefits of a career in corrections.”

The Department of Corrections also announced that it has increased pay for correctional officers by 18% since October 2020.

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