Corrections Connection - February 2026 Newsletter

February 2026

Behind the Scenes: Feeding 2,500 Every Day

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 2,500 men – that’s the thrilling challenge food service staff at Central Michigan Correctional Facility (STF) in St. Louis take on each day. Led by Food Service Director Chad Stevenson, the team seeks to produce high quality meals on time in a safe and secure way.

There are several elements that make a prison kitchen different from a typical high volume cooking setting. While MDOC kitchens look like a typical industrial kitchen, they are outfitted to ensure ingredients and cooking tools are secure, and cooks and servers are trained to ensure plates and serving sizes are accurately portioned and provided. For an inside look at a day in the life of a facility kitchen, check out the following video.

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Food Service Director Stevenson credits his years of experience with the department for his ability to manage the demands of the kitchen, alongside the constant rise in food prices and staffing decisions he makes. He and his team aren’t often visible even to other staff and those under supervision in the facility, but the hard work they do each day is critical to STF’s operation.

They take on multiple demands – high volume cooking, personnel management, ordering and inventory, and more – and successfully execute every single day.

Food Service Director Stevenson at work in his office.

MDOC in the News: Highlighting a Recent Story

MyUPNow: 'Through the Returning Citizen Identification Program (RCIP), over 30,000 incarcerated individuals across the state have gotten vital documents and IDs.

“MDOC is committed to removing barriers that those in our supervision face when paroled or discharged. Doing so increases their chance of becoming productive citizens and not returning to prison,” said Director Heidi E. Washington.

Photo identification is a key predictor for the success of those reentering Michigan communities after completing a prison sentence, MDOC asserts. 

“We all understand how often we need a government-issued ID in daily life. Reaching this milestone means 30,000 returning residents will have the opportunity to focus on crucial steps like finding a job and a place to live rather than spending time obtaining documents they would need to do so," Washington explained.'

Men at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility reviewing resources for release.

February is Career and Technical Education Month!

Opportunities that help those incarcerated be successful and productive after release are a priority for our department.

That's why we have 13 career and technical education programs, at 18 of our facilities, that offer real credentials or certifications to those that complete them.

For example, a man at Saginaw Correctional Facility can earn a ServSafe certification with tangible commercial kitchen skills in the food tech program. A woman at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility can earn all the practical and educational hours needed for a LARA cosmetology license in the cosmetology program. A man in the optical program at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility can earn a national certification from the American Board of Opticianry.

Our staff of instructors, experts in their respective fields, are committed to teaching their students to be proficient and professional. CTE programs offered by MDOC represent not only an opportunity for those leaving prison to be successful in their communities but also fill crucial workforce gaps in our state.

A man participates in the automotive program at Parnall Correctional Facility, on his way to earning a Master Mechanic's license.

MDOC Minute: A Helpful Tip

Applications are now open for our department’s first MDOC Career Academy this June at Green Oaks Training and Professional Development Center!

This free opportunity allows 15- to 20-year-olds interested in a career in corrections to explore available opportunities, while participating in hands-on activities with experienced professionals.

Apply now for an exciting and informative week that could shape you or your young person’s future career! Michigan Department of Corrections: Youth Career Academy

Now Hiring: Food Service Professionals!

We would like to invite you to apply for a position as one of our food service staff members. Pay starts at over $20 an hour with full state benefits including paid vacation and sick time, paid parental leave, quality health insurance, retirement benefits, and more.

Working in Food Service for the Michigan Department of Corrections

The Michigan Department of Corrections manages 26 state prisons across Michigan and supervises over 30,000 incarcerated individuals. Each prison is like its own city, providing services like libraries, stores, schools, health care, and regularly scheduled food service.

MDOC food service directors, supervisors, and cooks oversee all food service operations such as meal planning, food ordering, and worker scheduling in industrial-style kitchens. Food service staff are also responsible for training and supervising incarcerated workers that prepare and serve meals, helping to provide them with valuable work skills for when they are released. This not only positively impacts their lives and the lives of their family but also helps to keep Michigan communities safe.

Learn more and apply now!