Michigan Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
789,160
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
141.8
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
269,891
34% of total
Year-over-Year
-18.7%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
269,891
Long Gun
202,814
Permit Checks
205,104
In 2022, Michigan recorded 789,160 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 141.8 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 34% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 26%. Background checks decreased 18.7% compared to 2021.
NICS checks are conducted for firearm purchases, permits, and other transactions. A single check does not necessarily equal one firearm sale.
Background Checks by Year
| Year | Total Checks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 489,957 | — |
| 2019 | 492,171 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 1,068,511 | +117.1% |
| 2021 | 970,990 | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 789,160 | -18.7% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Michigan State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
32,986
2023
Per 100K Residents
593
imprisonment rate
Admissions
8,737
2023
Releases
8,126
2023
Male Prisoners
31,285
95% of total
Female Prisoners
1,701
5% of total
Michigan Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 20.4% of Michigan's population but 49.3% of the prison population (2.4x overrepresented). White residents are 65.8% of the population but 41.2% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Michigan had a total prison population of 32,986 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 593 per 100,000 residents. There were 8,737 new admissions and 8,126 releases.
Michigan County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 4 counties in Michigan.
Total Jail Population
4,143
2024
Avg Jail Rate
154
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
50,872
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,143 | 154 | 50,872 | N/A | 4 |
| 2023 | 7,816 | 264 | 106,460 | 70% | 18 |
| 2022 | 9,102 | 293 | 118,418 | 70% | 22 |
| 2021 | 7,890 | 252 | 113,688 | 67% | 24 |
| 2020 | 9,607 | 236 | 206,192 | 67% | 71 |
| 2019 | 16,232 | 356 | 280,886 | 52% | 82 |
| 2018 | 16,370 | 360 | 295,847 | 53% | 82 |
| 2017 | 16,506 | 362 | 301,527 | 52% | 82 |
| 2016 | 16,498 | 361 | 302,656 | 52% | 83 |
| 2015 | 15,477 | 364 | 291,024 | 53% | 83 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Michigan's 4 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 4,143 with an average county jail rate of 154 per 100,000 residents. A total of 50,872 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Michigan Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 83 counties in Michigan. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
9,258
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
3,694
40% of total
Suicide Deaths
5,546
60% of total
Rate per 100K
13.2
crude mortality rate
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Michigan's 83 counties reported a combined 9,258 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 13.2 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 3,694 (40%) were homicides and 5,546 (60%) were suicides. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.