Michigan Recidivism Rate Declines

Liz Gullett

Feb 16, 2018

The number of Michigan offenders who return to prison has reached its lowest level since the state began recording these rates. The rate of 28.1% also places Michigan among the top ten states in the nation with the lowest recidivism rates. Over the past several years, the legislature and Governor Rick Snyder have been investing additional dollars to create programs that help offenders get education and job training prior to, and just after leaving prison. In a statement, Governor Snyder said “Ninety-five percent of people in prison will be paroled and 100 percent of them need a job. Finding employment is the best deterrent in keeping former offenders from returning to prison.” The Department of Corrections uses an “Offender Success” model, which aims to provide prisoners with education, skills, and job training in high-demand fields that can lead to stable careers and lower the risk of re-offense. There are additional programs at various prisons, as well as public-private partnerships.

Recidivism in Michigan has hovered around 30% in recent years and it reflects a sharp drop from 1998 when the rate was 45.7%.

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