AI Era to Prevent Violence in Michigan Prisons

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is moving from manual worksheets to AI-powered software to assess the security risk levels of 32,000 inmates. Developed by the non-profit organization Recidiviz, the system aims to update risk scores in real-time based on inmates' criminal history, expert evaluations, and behavioral data.

MDOC Director Heidi Washington stated that the new software tool is expected to increase the ability to predict future violence risk by approximately 30 percent. The pilot application of the project is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2026.

On the other hand, prison guards union president Byron Osborn is approaching the situation with skepticism. Osborn argues that the real problem is not the accuracy of current classification methods, but rather a shortage of high-security beds. Recent data shows that despite a 16 percent decrease in the total prison population, there has been a 13 percent increase in assaults against staff and inmates between 2019 and 2026.