 state of michigan prisons are 1  fact michigan has a higher incarceration rate than iran russia and cuba in 2011 michigan spent 241 percent of its budget on corrections a larger portion than any other state and total spending is approximately 2 billion per year that is more than what the state spent on higher education in the same year one of only eight states to do so for the article on why the taxpayers spend so much for prisons go online at  http wwwdetroitnewscom story opinion 20141204 michiganlawcriminalizesmichiganians 19856787  19  state michigan prisons are 1  