Michigan prison sentencing data
In the latest Michigan Department of Corrections public release loaded into Justice Audit, 32,342 people were held in Michigan state prisons. Their median sentence is 20 years (the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing, not counting life or death sentences). 65% are serving 20 years or more, and 4,174 are serving life. Michigan sentences have a minimum and a maximum term; figures here use the maximum.
Race: prison population vs. state population
| Group | People | Share of prison | Share of state (U.S. Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 16,680 | 52% | 14% |
| White | 13,348 | 41% | 75% |
| Hispanic | 1,500 | 4.6% | 5.3% |
| Indigenous | 484 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
Most common offenses
By the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing. Life and death sentences are not included in the median.
| Offense | People | Median sentence (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide - Murder, Second Degree | 2,925 | 50 |
| Robbery Armed | 1,752 | 30 |
| Asslt w/Int to Commit Murder | 1,180 | 35 |
| Asslt w/Int Great Bodily Hrm Less Murder or by Strangulation | 1,126 | 10 |
| Controlled Substance-Delivery/Manufacture Methamphetamine | 1,037 | 20 |
| Controlled Substance-Possession of Methamphetamine | 988 | 15 |
| CSC - 1st Degree (Person Under 13, Defendant 17 Or Older) | 789 | 50 |
| Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st Deg | 628 | 40 |
| Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st Deg (Person Under 13) | 614 | 41.5 |
| Home Invasion - 1st Degree | 613 | 20 |
| Prisons - Prisoner Possessing Weapons | 606 | 5 |
| Controlled Substance-Delivery/Manf., Nar/Coc <50 Grams | 591 | 20 |
| Criminal Sexual Conduct, 3rd Deg (Person 13 Thru 15) | 537 | 15 |
| Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st Deg (Relationship) | 514 | 40 |
| Assault of Prison or Other place of Confinement Employee | 461 | 5 |
Sentencing by county
County where the person's longest sentence was imposed. Counties with 20+ people have their own page.
| County | People | Median sentence (years) | Serving 20+ years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 7,755 | 25 | 76% |
| Oakland | 2,666 | 30 | 74% |
| Kent | 1,984 | 22.5 | 73% |
| Genesee | 1,525 | 25 | 72% |
| Macomb | 1,474 | 20 | 62% |
| Saginaw | 1,086 | 20 | 67% |
| Muskegon | 998 | 20 | 64% |
| Ingham | 881 | 22.5 | 69% |
| Kalamazoo | 846 | 25 | 67% |
| Berrien | 814 | 20 | 60% |
| Jackson | 708 | 20 | 62% |
| St. Clair | 700 | 20 | 65% |
| Calhoun | 553 | 30 | 71% |
| Ottawa | 540 | 20 | 57% |
| Washtenaw | 518 | 20 | 69% |
| Ionia | 420 | 7.5 | 24% |
| Livingston | 395 | 20 | 59% |
| Eaton | 357 | 20 | 69% |
| Monroe | 354 | 20 | 67% |
| Chippewa | 353 | 7.5 | 34% |
| Allegan | 334 | 20 | 58% |
| Van Buren | 324 | 20 | 66% |
| Marquette | 287 | 10 | 28% |
| Isabella | 271 | 20 | 65% |
| Montcalm | 258 | 5 | 33% |
| Shiawassee | 257 | 20 | 53% |
| Lenawee | 250 | 15 | 52% |
| Grand Traverse | 246 | 15 | 41% |
| Gratiot | 242 | 5 | 20% |
| St. Joseph | 241 | 20 | 59% |
| Lapeer | 222 | 10 | 41% |
| Tuscola | 214 | 20 | 59% |
| Branch | 207 | 10 | 29% |
| Bay | 194 | 20 | 58% |
| Midland | 182 | 20 | 57% |
| Newaygo | 166 | 20 | 58% |
| Barry | 164 | 20 | 59% |
| Cass | 152 | 22.5 | 70% |
| Otsego | 148 | 20 | 62% |
| Mecosta | 146 | 15 | 42% |
| Hillsdale | 145 | 15 | 43% |
| Mason | 138 | 30 | 86% |
| Clinton | 127 | 20 | 61% |
| Alpena | 126 | 20 | 71% |
| Manistee | 124 | 5 | 31% |
| Wexford | 117 | 15 | 44% |
| Emmet | 116 | 20 | 53% |
| Clare | 112 | 21.5 | 71% |
| Huron | 104 | 20 | 53% |
| Charlevoix | 104 | 20 | 53% |
| Delta | 103 | 20 | 57% |
| Cheboygan | 103 | 15 | 51% |
| Sanilac | 92 | 20 | 53% |
| Alger | 80 | 5 | 26% |
| Kalkaska | 78 | 15 | 53% |
| Crawford | 76 | 15 | 46% |
| Iosco | 74 | 20 | 64% |
| Dickinson | 72 | 25 | 64% |
| Roscommon | 72 | 21.5 | 62% |
| Gogebic | 71 | 20 | 76% |
| Osceola | 65 | 15 | 48% |
| Menominee | 64 | 17.5 | 53% |
| Oceana | 63 | 20 | 56% |
| Missaukee | 63 | 15 | 35% |
| Gladwin | 59 | 20 | 63% |
| Baraga | 57 | 5 | 33% |
| Ogemaw | 45 | 15 | 44% |
| Antrim | 45 | 20 | 62% |
| Arenac | 43 | 20 | 56% |
| Oscoda | 38 | 15 | 55% |
| Alcona | 37 | 20 | 81% |
| Benzie | 34 | 10 | 41% |
| Presque Isle | 33 | 20 | 58% |
| Lake | 32 | 20 | 62% |
| Iron | 32 | 20 | 62% |
| Houghton | 31 | 15 | 48% |
| Leelanau | 28 | 15 | 43% |
| Mackinac | 28 | 20 | 57% |
| Luce | 24 | 9 | 33% |
| Montmorency | 22 | 20 | 73% |
| Schoolcraft | 19 | 20 | 63% |
| Ontonagon | 10 | – | 60% |
| Keweenaw | fewer than 10 | – | – |
| Date Of Sentence: | fewer than 10 | – | – |
About this data
Source: Michigan Department of Corrections public inmate records. Counts are people currently in state prison custody, one record per person, using the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing. Michigan sentences have a minimum and a maximum term; figures here use the maximum. People on parole, probation or in local jails are not included. Criminal history is not in the data. Search individual records in Justice Audit.