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Up North Lowdown

Michigan's prison workers face big problems, especially in the Upper Peninsula

By Ed Ronco
Published April 24, 2026 at 9:35 AM EDT
Inmates spend time outside at the Kincheloe prison complex in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Corrections officers say staffing shortages place both staff and inmates at risk. (Photo: Adam Miedema/WCMU)
Adam Miedema
/
WCMU
Inmates spend time outside at the Kincheloe prison complex in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Corrections officers say staffing shortages place both staff and inmates at risk. (Photo: Adam Miedema/WCMU)

Understaffing. Mandatory overtime. Physical danger. Michigan's prison workers face serious obstacles and the issue is especially acute in the Upper Peninsula.

A special report from the Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative explores what's happening, how we got here and what officials are doing about it.

IPR's Claire Keenan-Kurgan walks us through the details and brings us some voices.

Producer: Austin Rowlader
Editing: Steve Junker
Music: Blue Dot Sessions

More from the Up North Lowdown

Corrected: April 24, 2026 at 10:37 AM EDT
An earlier version of this podcast said an inmate stabbed a corrections officer in the neck. The stabbing did occur, but it was not in the neck. We've updated the audio accordingly.
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Up North Lowdown IPR Morning Editionprisonsmdoc
Ed Ronco
Ed Ronco is IPR's news director and the local host of "Morning Edition."
See stories by Ed Ronco