Alger Correctional Facility

The Alger Correctional Facility is a state prison for adult male inmates that is located in the upper peninsula of Michigan. This prison opened in 1990 and has six housing units. Three of the housing units are for Level IV inmates in general population, one is general population Level II, and two housing units are for segregation.

The two Segregation Units run an Incentives In Segregation Program, and one of the Level IV General Population Units has a Reintegration Program. The Level II housing unit has a Rescue Dog Training Program. Other buildings provide Food Service, Health Care, Maintenance, Education, and Administrative Offices. 

In August 2018, prisoners at Alger―in conjunction with inmates in other facilities―started a boycott against Globaltel, the prison’s communications partner due to abuse of private funds and exploitation.

The perimeter security at Alger includes a buffer fence, double chain link fences, razor-ribbon wire, electronic detection systems, an armed patrol vehicle, and gun towers.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Hours at Alger Correctional Facility are as follows:

Level II Inmates

Monday                2:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Sunday                 8:30 am to 8:30 pm

Level IV Inmates

Thurs/Friday      2:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Saturday             8:30 am to 8:30 pm

Segregation

Thurs-Sun        8:30 am to 12:30 pm

General Visiting Rules

All prisoners must complete a Visitor List form to identify immediate family members and no more than 10 other potential visitors. Those persons the prisoner has placed on his/her visiting list must complete a Visiting Application to request approval to visit. The Visiting Application must be submitted in advance to allow for review of the Application.

INCLUDING A SELF-ADDRESSED-STAMPED ENVELOPE WHEN THE APPLICATION IS RETURNED WILL ENSURE THAT THE PROPOSED VISITOR IS PROVIDED NOTIFICATION OF HIS/HER APPROVAL OR DENIAL TO VISIT.  NO VISITS WILL BE ALLOWED WITHOUT THIS APPROVAL.  

Adult visitors are required to present a valid pictured driver’s license, state identification card, military identification card, passport, or other government-issued identification for verification prior to each visit. 

A maximum of five persons may participate in a visit with a prisoner. Children less than two years of age will not be counted in that number. 

For a complete list of visiting rules at Alger Correctional Facility, click here.

Dress Code

Visitors must be fully dressed in clean clothes that are in good repair, e.g., holes in the clothing are not acceptable; however, worn or frayed clothing that has no hole or tear may be acceptable. Visitors are not permitted to exchange, share, or give any part of their attire to a prisoner. 

Undergarments must be worn, including underpants/panties; adult females must wear a brassiere. 

Clothing which exposes excessive skin (e.g., abdomen, breast, chest, back, thigh, etc.) is prohibited. This clothing includes, but is not limited to, see-through clothing, tube/halter tops, and shorts or skirts/dresses that are more than 3” (three inches) above the knee. 

Measurements are to be taken when the visitor is seated with feet flat on the floor and at the highest point of the skirt; e.g., if the skirt has a slit, then the measurement would be taken at the top of the slit. (If the slit is in the front or side of the skirt, the measurement would be taken while seated; if the slit is in the back of the skirt, the measurement may be taken while the visitor is standing).

A visitor who is fourteen years of age or younger must be attired in clothing which covers his/her body from the base of the neck to the top of the knees. T-Shirt and shorts/trousers are acceptable, but  a sundress is not acceptable. 

Clothing which exposes undergarments is prohibited. Sleeveless tops are allowed only if the armholes are fashioned in a way that conceals the undergarments and breast/chest of the visitor.

Extreme form-fitting clothing, including but not limited to yoga pants, running tights, jeggings, unitards, etc. may not be worn as outer garments. 

Clothing which displays words, symbols, gestures, or pictures that may be perceived as obscene or inflammatory are prohibited. 

Outer garments such as shawls/ponchos/lightweight coats/jackets (including denim and jogging suit jackets), winter coats/jackets, shrugs, vests, headgear, gloves, or outer boots that slip over a shoe are not allowed in the visiting room. Blazers, suit coats, and sweaters are permissible. Note: Hooded garments are prohibited. 

Visitors are permitted to wear religious clothing and headgear (e.g., Hijab, yarmulke, turban, habit, etc.), into the visiting room; but are subject to search and inspection. It may be necessary for MDOC staff to search/inspect these items at any time during the visiting process. 

Visitors who have hair loss due to medical condition and/or treatment may be permitted to wear head covering (scarf, turban, hat or wig); this head covering is subject to search and inspection. It may be necessary for MDOC staff to search/inspect these items at any time during the visiting process. 

Footwear must be worn at all times. 

Jewelry worn by visitors will be itemized on entry and on leaving the visiting area. Jewelry shall be limited to no more than ten pieces (a ring set or an earring set shall count as two pieces). Note: Jewelry which includes an open compartment or space designed to contain photographs, hair, ashes, etc. is prohibited (e.g., lockets, rings, charms, vials, etc.). 

Also prohibited are watches, including electronic wristbands, pendants, eyeglasses, and other similar items containing a camera, GPS, wireless, or electronic functions. 

Visitors who arrive in clothing that does not comply with these standards will not be permitted to visit. An exception may be made if this is the person’s first visit to any MDOC facility (verification in Visitor Tracking necessary); in this case, the person is to be provided a smock and permitted to visit. A notation will be made in Visitor Tracking when a smock is used. 

Personal Property Allowed in the Visiting Room

• Locker key
• Visitor pass
• Identification card

Money for the purchase of food items sold from vending machines located in the visiting room is allowed. No dollar bills are allowed, only change (dollar coins, quarters, dimes and nickels only), with a maximum of $25 per visitor. The maximum allowed for a visiting party of three or more persons is $60.

When an infant is part of the visit you are allowed to bring: Two clear plastic bottles, one pacifier, and one single-layered baby blanket (no quilt or comforter style). A clear plastic spill-proof cup “sippy cup” is permitted when a toddler is a member of the visiting party. 

Medications and/or medical equipment (e.g., wheelchair, cane, walker, oxygen equipment, prosthesis, etc.) which may be needed by a visitor during a visit are permitted with the approval of the shift commander. 

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

You can send money to an inmate at Alger Correctional Facility via the GTL ConnectNetwork with their Trust Fund service. 

After creating a ConnectNetwork account and selecting Alger Correctional Facility and your inmate to add to your account, you can deposit money into his Trust Fund (commissary) account at any time. Deposit amounts vary, but the most common denominations are between $10 and $100. All funds appear on the inmate’s account quickly, efficiently, and accurately.

Programs For Inmates

Prisoner programs include General Library, Law Library, Adult Basic Education, General Education Development classes, Violence Prevention Programs, Thinking for a Change and Employment Readiness. The facility also has Substance-abuse Education Treatment, Psychotherapy as well as Outpatient Substance Abuse programming and religious activities.

Prisoners are provided on-site routine Medical, Optical X-Ray, and Dental Care. Serious and emergency problems are treated via local community providers, the Brooks Medical Center at Marquette Branch Prison and the Duane L. Waters Health Care in Jackson.

Prisoner programming focuses on changing the prisoners thought processes utilizing cognitive restructuring and behavioral techniques. Prisoners are considered for programming while incarcerated based on their assessed risk and need level and are prioritized by their Earliest Release Date (ERD). 

Prisoners must meet specific criteria to be placed into Core Programs and cannot elect or self-refer for participation. Completion of required programming does not guarantee positive Parole Board action.

Education Programs

Employment Readiness/Pre-Release: Employment readiness programming prior to release. Areas included are prisoner education, vocational education, and job placement.

Academic Classes: These classes improve students’ basic skills and prepare them to take the General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Classes offered at MDOC facilities include: Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Special Education programming.

Career and Technical Education (CTE): CTE programs provide prisoners with specific trades instruction, technical skills, and soft skill competencies critical to finding and maintaining employment. These skills are transferable into community employment or community college programming through state and/or federally recognized certifications upon completion. 

Chance for Life (CFL): CFL is a voluntary program that is intended to support workforce entry, job readiness skills, life skills, and behavior modification to provide positive adjustment of prisoners upon their release from prison.

College (Post-Secondary Programs): Prisoners are allowed to participate in post-secondary classes geared towards college credit or enrichment at their own expense.

Routine Work Assignment (RWA): The Department is committed to providing prisoners with an opportunity to acquire job skills and develop positive and constructive work habits to improve their employment readiness, opportunities, and potential wages both in the institution and upon their return to the community.

State Correctional Opportunities for Rehabilitation and Education (SCORE)/Prison Build: This program, formerly called Prison Build, allows prisoners to gain valuable work experience producing various items for non-profit organizations and state agencies. 

Core Programs

• Thinking for a Change (T4C)
• Cage Your Rage (CYR)
• Advanced Substance Abuse Treatment (ASAT)
• Substance Abuse Outpatient
• Violence Prevention Program High (VPP High)
• Violence Prevention Program Moderate (VPP Moderate)
• Bridges
• Sex Offender Program (SOP)
• Michigan Sex Offender Program
• Employment Readiness/Pre-Release

Elective Programs

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Assaultive Offender Program (AOP)
• Chance for Life (CFL)
• Faith and Character Prison
• Family Preservation
• Inside Out Dad
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Routine Work Assignment (RWA)
• Substance Abuse Education

Pictures of Alger Correctional Facility

Careers at Alger Correctional Facility

If you are interested in a career with the Michigan Department of Corrections at the Alger Correctional Facility, you can find job listings by clicking here.