State Rep. Karl Bohnak today addressed the Michigan Department of Corrections’ recent announcement that it would boost starting hourly pay for new corrections officer recruits in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from $23.45 to $28.24 – an annual increase of around $10,000. The pay increase comes after Bohnak and other legislators put immense pressure on the department to increase the pay, benefits, and working conditions in state prisons.

“Getting higher pay for new U.P. corrections officers is a huge win that is definitely worth celebrating, as long as we all acknowledge that is just the first step down a very long road,” said Bohnak, R-Deerton. “We’ve known for years that our prisons, specifically our corrections officers, face horrific situations every day. With rising costs, those COs have been asked to do the same job for less pay and fewer quality benefits.

“This action from the department, however positive, doesn’t raise pay for the COs already on the job. The state has been behind the eight ball the entire time. So, while it’s good to see them implement increases to starting pay, state officials still have a long way to go to make up for their failure to meaningfully address the situation.”

Last year, Bohnak worked across party lines to ensure $32.1 million was included in the state budget agreement, specifically to support CO pay increases similar to what’s being rolled out in the U.P.

Bohnak has been a vocal supporter of increasing pay and benefits for corrections officers long before he took office in the state Legislature. Before even entering office, Bohnak joined U.P. corrections officers on the picket lines to join them in calling for MDOC to address the staffing crisis they faced.

Right after taking office, Bohnak supported legislation – House Bill 4201 – that would eliminate the pension tax paid by retired state corrections officers, the same benefit that is currently extended retired police, fire, and local corrections officers. That legislation has been sitting in a state Senate committee for more than a year.

In December 2025, Bohnak toured prisons across the U.P. – in Alger, Baraga, and Marquette counties – where he saw firsthand the terrible working conditions COs have to endure. During the tours, Bohnak spoke with frontline officers about their lack of appropriate compensation and benefits.

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