Michigan's prison system is packed with tales of breakouts, reform, and legendary characters. The history of Michigan's prisons, especially the notorious Jackson State Prison (Cooper Street Correctional Facility), reads like something out of a thriller novel—complete with jailbreaks, outlaw gangs, and mob connections.

RELATED: Michigan's Failed Prison Breaks: Dale Remling's Helicopter Flight

Before we look at the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) most wanted escapees and absconders, let's examine one of the most legendary escapes in Michigan corrections history.

The Great Jackson Robber Gang Escape of 1840

An arial view of the Parnall Corrections Facility in Jackson, Michigan
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According to Pure Michigan, in 1940, Michigan's prison security was tested with its first mass escape. Back then, Jackson Prison was a collection of wooden walls that barely held back some of Michigan's roughest criminals. Ten inmates made a break for freedom and fled to Spring Arbor, where they terrorized the surrounding communities for the next two years.

Authorities eventually recaptured most of the fugitives, but two managed to escape justice entirely. This chaotic event signaled the start of prison upgrades, and the wooden walls were replaced with iron and stone—a prison fortress meant to contain the toughest in Michigan.

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

Capturing eight of the ten convicts in 1940 is an impressive feat; however, much like the two prisoners who escaped justice, there are former Michigan inmates who are still on the run after successfully exiting their incarceration before the sentence is up.

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

Ionia Prison (Vintage Photos) and Michigan's Worst Prisons

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