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Michigan Report

Michigan

IMPRISONMENT IN MICHIGAN

At year-end 2004, Michigan prisons housed 48,883 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 46,770 were male and 2,113 were female. Michigan ranked 37th in its 2004 female imprisonment rate with 41 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, and 13th in its 2004 overall imprisonment rate with 483 prisoners per 100,000 residents.

In 1977, Michigan prisons housed 538 female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 2,113. Michigan's female prison population was at its lowest with 538 female prisoners in 1977 and peaked at 2,267 female inmates in 2002.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, Michigan's female prison population grew by 293% with an average annual percent change of 5.5% per year (a much slower rate of growth than in most other states).

From 1977 until the mid-1990s, Michigan's female imprisonment rate was typically higher than the average female imprisonment rate across the states. In the mid-1990s, growth in female imprisonment in Michigan slowed relative to growth in other states, and its imprisonment fell below average. With a female imprisonment rate of 41 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, Michigan ranked 37th in its imprisonment of female offenders in 2004.

MALE TO FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATIO

The male to female imprisonment ratio indicates the number of male inmates for every female inmate. Although both female and male imprisonment rates have increased over the period of study, a shrinking ratio suggests that the number of female prisoners has increased at a faster pace. In 1977, across the states, there were an average of 26 male prisoners for every female prisoner; by 2004, this ratio had fallen to 13 male prisoners for every female prisoner. Although Michigan's 1977 ratio was slightly lower than average with 25 male prisoners for every female prisoner, Michigan's male to female ratio remained remarkably stable over a period where most states experienced decreases in that ratio. Therefore, by 2004, Michigan's male to female imprisonment ratio (22:1) was substantially higher than the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Michigan has 70 correctional facilities. Of Michigan's 70 correctional facilities, 56 house male prisoners only, three house female prisoners only, and 11 house both male and female prisoners.