MDOC’s 22 Most Wanted Escapees in Michigan

Life as a fugitive from justice has to be exhausting. Many of us spend eight hours a day trying to look busy in case our boss happens to walk by. Now imagine looking over your shoulder every moment of your existence. For the 22 people listed among the Michigan Department of Corrections' (MDOC) most wanted escapees, life has to be filled with anxiety.

RELATED: Michigan's New License Plate Celebrates Freedom — Made By Prisoners

Life on the Run in Michigan

Of the escaped prisoners currently wanted by the MDOC, the most recent fled from a Michigan correctional facility on January 5, 1996. That's 30-plus years of looking over your shoulder, wondering if today is the day they're finally caught.

What Michigan Law Says About Escaping Prison

Photo by Khashayar Kouchpeydeh on Unsplash

Michigan isn't very tolerant of escapees either. Michigan law says if you get busted out of jail or prison, you've just committed another crime. Section 750.193 makes it a felony for someone who is serving time in a state prison to break out, actually escape, leave without being properly discharged, or even attempt to escape.

Get our free mobile app

That's right... Making an attempt counts as its own punishable offense. If you pull off an escape or try to, you're looking at up to 5 more years behind bars on top of whatever time you were doing before you left without permission.

Photo by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash

And "prison" or "jail" are just the walls you think of in Jackson or other state facilities — it includes all places where prisoners are housed or working under supervision, like road camps, farms, workshops, job sites, and even areas outside the main building if they're still technically under custody.

RELATED: PHOTOS 1952 Chaos Erupted in Jackson: Michigan State Prison Riot

Michigan’s Most Wanted Prison Escapees

Ready to see if you've run into an MDOC fugitive? Scroll on for the complete list.

Michigan Department of Corrections Most Wanted Fugitives

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has a long, storied history, which includes hundreds of unsuccessful prison breaks. That said, some have been successful enough that nearly 50 years later, some Michigan fugitives are still running from justice. Here's a look at the MDOC's Most Wanted Fugitives and Absconders

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

The 1952 Jackson, Michigan Prison Riot

Protesting harsh treatment, poor medical care, and bad food, inmates of Jackson's Michigan State Prison held 9 guards hostage for 5 days of riots in April 1952.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Source: A Look at Michigan’s Most Wanted Prison Escapees