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

BARAGA — The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) announced pay rate increases of approximately $10,000 to new officer recruits at five Upper Peninsula facilities on Friday. The announcement comes as a part of the MDOC Safe Prison Initiative, a portion of it aims to increase recruitment and retention.

Baraga Correctional Facility is one of the U.P. prisons affected by this change. Starting pay for new officers will increase from $23.45 to $28.24.

In a press release regarding the pay rate increase, Michigan State Representative Karl Bohnak (R D-109), said it is a great first step in ensuring correction officers (COs) are rightfully compensated for their work.

“Getting higher pay for new U.P. corrections officers is a huge win that is definitely worth celebrating, as long as we all acknowledge that is just the first step down a very long road,” Bohnak said. “We’ve known for years that our prisons, specifically our corrections officers, face horrific situations every day. With rising costs, those COs have been asked to do the same job for less pay and fewer quality benefits.”

In addition to representing Baraga, Bohnak also represents the Marquette and Munising areas, where Marquette Branch Prison and the Alger Correctional Facility are located.

According to MDOC, it is actively recruiting for the next Northern Region Officer Academy on July 20 in Kincheloe. A 16-week intensive training in the academy and on-site will follow. The recruits who complete the training will be hired at the $28.24 rate as new officers.

In the Friday announcement, MDOC Director Heidi Washington, said this new hiring incentive represents a facet of the broader mission of the Safe Prison Initiative, which was announced in March.

“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,” Washington said. “We are optimistic that this change, along with other components of the Safe Prison Initiative, will provide relief to staff and create safer facilities.”

MDOC added the rate increase for new recruits will also apply to current officers under the new rate. Baraga, Marquette and Munision have scheduled hiring events this week as a part of the MDOC hiring push under the initiative.

For more information on the Safe Prisons Initiative or MDOC’s recruiting, visit michigan.gov/corrections.