August 2025
Breaking New Ground:
How Vocational Village Paved Ron’s Path
About a year into his sentence at Parnall Correctional Facility, Ron joined the Vocational Village and eventually completed the Concrete Building Trades and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) programs. As Ron says, that made a “good thing from a bad thing,” leading to an interview while still at Parnall, and eventually a job offer from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Ron is the first Vocational Village graduate to be employed by another Michigan state agency.
As Ron was released on parole, he began as a year-round Transportation Maintenance Worker and quickly established a reputation as a quick learner, hard worker, and natural leader. In three years, he’s dug ditches, patched potholes, cleared snow, and now sometimes leads the crew himself. His supervisor Jerry Danforth says, “I wish I could crank out a hundred Rons.”
Ron at a job site in Monroe County, sealing cracks.
Vocational Village Principal Bryan Friedman (pictured right) remembers Ron’s determination to find a steady job upon release. He joined in his determination, assisting Ron with completing benefits and insurance information, and even personally delivering the new hire paperwork to an MDOT office.
If Ron has one thing to say to those in Vocational Village or trades programming now, it’s to take advantage of the tools you’re given. If he has one thing to say to Michigan drivers, it’s to keep an eye out for MDOT workers and slow down when they’re on the road.
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Record Low Recidivism Rate and Reduction in Michigan’s Prison and Parole Population
New data shows Michigan’s lowest recidivism rate on record and a continued decrease in prison population, illustrating success in efforts to rehabilitate and to reduce reoffenses.
The latest recidivism report shows a rate of 21%. The rate measures those who are now three years out from their parole date and records how many individuals have reoffended and returned to prison within that timeframe.
The report measuring prison population through the end of 2024 shows there are 32,778 incarcerated individuals statewide, down from a peak of 51,554 individuals in 2007. The report projects a continued downward trend in prison population this decade.
The department has undertaken many evidence-based programs like supporting access to vital documents, housing, and recovery resources; job placement assistance; and consistent supervision and support to help individuals stay on track during and after their time in prison.
In 2025, the average cost per person incarcerated per year is more than $50,000. A low recidivism rate not only helps to lower the state's costs related to incarceration; it contributes to local Michigan economies as returning citizens join the workforce in their communities.
The Family That Serves Together…
Molly Darling has served with MDOC for ten years as a corrections officer in a max security housing unit, a prison counselor, and now as a recruiter.
She’s so passionate about what a career in corrections can offer that in three recent recruit classes you could find her son, then her daughter, and then her nephew graduating from the academy and becoming officers themselves.
Molly began her career as a single mom of three who had been a hairdresser for 15 years. She had struggled with the instability of her work, with clients cancelling appointments and the need to rent a chair at someone else's salon. She got her associates degree and was drawn to the consistency, benefits, and opportunity that a career with MDOC offers.
Beyond that, becoming an officer gave her new confidence, a sense of mission in keeping our state safe, and strong camaraderie with colleagues. She later earned her bachelor’s degree and received multiple promotions.
Molly says she is determined to find new officers and staff who exemplify integrity and steadiness. Seeing those qualities in her children and nephew, encouraged them to pursue this career path.
In the past year the department has ramped up officer recruitment and training efforts, bringing 854 new corrections officers to facilities around the state. Two of these academy classes set records as the largest in nearly a decade!
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Officer recruits taking their oath of office during the most recent Lower Peninsula academy graduation.
850 Illegal Guns Off the Streets:
Operation Safe Neighborhoods in Action
In partnership with the Michigan State Police and local police departments, MDOC has now taken 850 illegal guns off the streets through Operation Safe Neighborhoods. The effort helps to further our mission of supporting a safer Michigan by working to ensure individuals on probation or parole do not possess firearms, which is prohibited.
Operation Safe Neighborhood helps to stop and solve violent crimes. For example, during one confiscation, a person on probation was in possession of a gun that was connected to the homicide of a toddler. In another check, a person on probation was found in possession of 17 illegal firearms and illicit drugs. In another, a parolee was found with an AR-15 with a loaded magazine and hundreds of rounds of ammo.
With 850 guns confiscated, we're especially proud of our parole and probation team members who undertake numerous compliance checks. The department is committed to continuing Operation Safe Neighborhoods with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal firearms out of our neighborhoods and will continue to hold the individuals who possess them accountable.
Director Washington speaks at a press conference about Operation Safe Neighborhoods earlier this year.
Join the Family Advisory Board
MDOC has a Family Advisory Board that helps foster effective communication between the department and the loved ones of incarcerated individuals — the board is now looking for new members.
This group provides feedback to the department about opportunities to strengthen efforts for family reunification, effective reentry supports, and other topics impacting incarcerated individuals and their families.
You can express interest by filling out the form on our website. Those who are selected are expected to attend one virtual meeting per month, as well as two in-person meetings per year. Submitting a form is an expression of interest and not everyone will be selected for the role.
MDOC Minute: A Helpful Tip
The department’s website has a new layout on our “Visiting a Prisoner” webpage to make the process clearer and more accessible. Applications to visit someone incarcerated can also now be completed online, as outlined on the site. Many questions loved ones may have about how to become approved and schedule visits can be answered here.
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