MI DOC - Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility (MTU)

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MI DOC – Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility (MTU) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 616-527-3100

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Handlon Correctional located at 1728 Bluewater Hwy in Ionia, MI are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

The Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility is a level II state prison that can house about 1,300 adult male inmates located in Ionia. Handlon CF places a strong emphasis on educating inmates while they are incarcerated, as studies have shown that inmates who have a GED, or learn a new vocational skill have a better chance of successful reintegration with society. Inmates can not only earn a GED but get an adult basic education. The philosophy of MTU is that a prisoner who has completed the GED and learned a marketable skill has a much better chance of becoming a contributing member of society.

The facility houses general population prisoners, along with other prisoners who have been placed in the Social Skills Developmental Unit (SSDU) and the Residential Treatment Program (RTP). The SSDU serves prisoners who are lacking skills necessary to live normal productive lives: some are considered developmentally disabled, many with long histories of institutionalization. The RTP is an integral component of the mental health continuum of care, which includes outpatient mental health teams, crisis stabilization programs, and inpatient hospital units.

Programming – The major program emphasis at the facility revolves around academic, vocational education, and special education. The facility houses the largest school system in the correctional system. The academic program is framed with the GED continuum, including Adult Basic Education and GED preparation. Supplements are Job Skills, Health Education and Independent Living Skills. Work socialization to assist prisoner workers in meeting community standards is an ongoing part of routine work assignments.

Recreation and leisure time programming is offered to assist in team building skills. Religious services serving all recognized religious group are offered. Professional staff offer counseling in the areas of violence, sexual acting out and criminal thinking. The goal is to modify self-destructive behaviors and replace them with goal directed positive thought processes.

Prisoners are provided on-site routine medical and dental care. Emergencies can be referred to a local hospital, and more serious problems are treated at the department's Duane L. Waters Health Care in Jackson

Security – A double chain-links fence, concertina wire and electronic detection systems make up the perimeter security. An Emergency response vehicle also patrols the perimeter.

AGE LIMIT: Males, 18 and older

SECURITY LEVEL: II

visitation Info

Michigan DOC – Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility (MTU) – Visitation

Visiting Hours

Monday, Thursday and Friday are 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Weekend visits are according to an odd/even schedule, based on the last digit of the prisoner's number.
If the number ends in an odd digit that prisoner may have visitation only on the odd dated weekend day.