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State hands detention center back to Detroit

July 16, 2025

The Detroit Police Department is regaining control of the Detroit Detention Center after a decade of state operation by the Michigan Department of Corrections, which will end its oversight in August 2023. This transition marks a significant milestone for Detroit, as the state originally took over the facility in 2013 when the police department was under federal oversight for civil rights violations in its precinct lockups. The city will purchase the 49-acre state-owned property for $1, including two buildings at the Mound Road location, and will save the $11-14 million it had been paying annually for state operation.

Who is affected

  • Detroit Police Department
  • People detained at the Detroit Detention Center
  • Detroit taxpayers (who will no longer pay $11-14 million annually to the state)
  • Michigan Department of Corrections staff
  • State taxpayers (who will save resources according to Governor Whitmer)

What action is being taken

  • The Michigan Department of Corrections is withdrawing from the 2013 agreement on August 1
  • Detroit is entering emergency contracts with vendors for medical staff, food service, custodial work, and other operational needs
  • Detroit officers are being trained to operate the facility
  • DPD staff are consulting with the Michigan Department of Corrections to understand best practices
  • The city is purchasing the 49-acre property, including two buildings, for $1

Why it matters

  • This transition represents Detroit reclaiming responsibility after a decade of state control necessitated by civil rights violations
  • The original federal oversight was due to serious problems including excessive force, unlawful detentions, and extremely poor facility conditions
  • The city will save between $11-14 million annually that it had been paying to the state
  • The facility is critical infrastructure as it books, fingerprints, and holds people for up to 72 hours before arraignment
  • The transfer allows the state to deploy its corrections staff elsewhere

What's next

  • The Michigan Department of Corrections will officially withdraw from the agreement on August 1
  • The facility will likely need upgrades, particularly a new air conditioning system in the building where detainees are held

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com