LANSING, MI — The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has announced a overhaul of its prisoner security classification system, shifting to a data-driven model designed to better predict and mitigate institutional violence.
The initiative, scheduled to launch as a pilot program on December 1, 2026, will roll out across select men’s correctional facilities statewide. Developed in partnership with Recidiviz, a non-profit technology organization specializing in criminal justice data, the new system leverages a partially automated tool capable of improving violence risk prediction by an estimated 30%.
State officials emphasize that while the tool automates complex data calculations to provide real-time risk assessments, it does not replace human judgment. MDOC staff will retain final decision-making authority over all housing and security classifications. The modern framework replaces rigid, static worksheets with dynamic data pipelines, allowing for continuous re-evaluation of a prisoner’s risk profile based on behavioral updates.
The strategic shift comes in direct response to a sharp escalation in institutional volatility. Data tracked by the Safe Inside Project revealed a significant surge in prison assaults between 2019 and 2024, prompting urgent calls from correctional officers and advocacy groups for modernized safety measures.
In tandem with the predictive software pilot, MDOC is also expanding its physical infrastructure to manage higher-risk populations. The department confirmed plans to add 870 new high-security beds to its network, ensuring that individuals flagged as high-risk can be housed in appropriate, secure environments.
Department leadership expressed confidence that the combination of real-time predictive analytics and expanded high-security capacity will substantially improve safety outcomes for both correctional staff and incarcerated individuals. If the pilot proves successful, MDOC intends to evaluate a broader, department-wide rollout in the subsequent phases.
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