General
The Southern Michigan Correctional Facility opened in 1997, after renovations were made to the former State Prison of Southern Michigan, once the largest walled prison in the world. Areas of the facility include housing, recreation, medical, school, library, quartermaster, food service, special activities and administration.
Southern Michigan Correctional Facility houses Level II and IV prisoners who have specific needs: medical, area court hearing(s), scheduled parole/discharge in the near future, educational/vocational, single cell or Administrative Segregation.
The facility is an active member of the Department's Community Liaison Committee in the Jackson County area and maintains open lines of communication between the community and prison administration.
Programming
The education/vocational programs provide opportunities for prisoners to improve their knowledge and skills, while special activities provide productive and diverse opportunities.
Educational/vocational programs include Adult Basic Education, General Education Development, Pre-Release, Social Skills, Visual Graphic Arts, Business Education Technology and an Optical program. Special activities are comprised of group psychotherapy (impulse control, anger management and sex offender therapy), substance abuse counseling and Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous.
Prisoners are employed in a variety of assignments, including food service, maintenance, grounds keeper and Michigan State Industries (MSI). MSI is a factory inside the secure perimeter of the facility and has three divisions. The Optical division grinds lenses which provide eyeglasses for prisoners throughout the state. The Print Shop division produces paper forms used by all State of Michigan agencies and the Textiles division, using weaving and sewing machinery, produces clothing items and bedding material for all Department of Corrections facilities.
The facility also provides a variety of religious programs for prisoners.
Security
Security includes a 40' brick perimeter wall, gun towers and electronic detection systems. A road surrounds the perimeter of the facility and is under constant surveillance and patrolled by armed staff.
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