KINCHELOE, MI— The Michigan Department of Corrections plans to temporarily close a housing unit at the Chippewa Correctional facility to further its Safe Prisons Initiative.
A Level II unit will be shut down and prisoners relocated to other housing units and facilities.
The MDOC says the move is a result of reduced demand for the beds. Officials say it’s also due to staff vacancies, which have been difficult to fill because of the availability of qualified candidates in the area, competing employment opportunities, housing availability, and other factors.
The department says the closure is expected to reduce overtime and increase retention of current employees, while promoting a safer prison and employee wellbeing.
