The DOC has already begun moving inmates, with a goal to move about half the population by Oct. 1, 2025

ST. PAUL, Minn. — As part of end-of-session budget negotiations in May, it was announced that the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) in Stillwater is scheduled to close by June 2029 through a phased process. Without a single hearing, the closure was inserted in the Judiciary and Public Safety Omnibus bill. Currently, there are no plans for a replacement facility.

Since then, local Corrections Officers have been raising the alarm on the implications this closure will have on staff, prisoners, and overall public safety in Minnesota.

“My first concern regarding the closing of Stillwater Prison was the lack of public hearings or discussion by the proper legislative committees that have jurisdiction in this area. Stillwater Prison houses violent and predatory inmates, and after meeting with numerous area Corrections Officers, it is clear that the decision to close Stillwater is hasty and will do nothing but lead to the further erosion of public safety throughout Minnesota,” said Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove), Republican Lead on the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

“[Department of Corrections] Commissioner Paul Schnell has repeatedly stated that there is no interest in early releases for criminals, but it’s worrisome to consider that may be the only feasible way to make this facility closure workable. The inmate population has risen over the years, and as our state continues to grow, it stands to reason so will crime. We need to give law enforcement the tools to do their jobs safely, and there is considerable concern that this plan does the opposite,” Limmer concluded.

As of June 12, Stillwater facility housed 1,127 inmates while there were 1,272 open beds across Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities. It’s not yet been made clear if there are enough open beds to accommodate the Stillwater population, considering separate prisons for women and juveniles cannot be used, and the St. Cloud facility has reduced capacity due to construction.

An update from the DOC on July 10 states the Stillwater facility is down to 1,000 inmates, meaning more than 100 prisoners have been relocated without a single public or legislative hearing. The same July update states the DOC has a goal to reduce the population at Stillwater by about half to 560 inmates by October 1, 2025.

“The current ‘plan’ relies on pushing nearly all other facilities in the state to their maximum capacities, which is dangerous for the officers tasked with keeping these facilities safe,” said Senator Michael Kreun (R-Blaine). “It is clear that the math is simply not workable. By moving forward with this closure, we are making conditions far less safe for both officers and inmates, and we are also limiting how much we can crack down on public safety in the future. This is a monumental shift in public safety policy in Minnesota, and it should have been considered in a much more deliberative and transparent process.”

Because of the lack of planning, employees of the Stillwater facility have begun sounding the alarm. Many have expressed public concern that the plan is “dangerous” and “disrespectful to staff”.

“It is very concerning that things are moving forward without an adequate plan in place that prioritizes the safety of all involved – this is not the way we should approach such a drastic change,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater). “When the closure was announced, there was a commitment to putting a plan in place that safely relocates inmates and ensures all staff is reassigned to similar roles. Unfortunately, we have not seen movement on that, and Corrections Officers are justifiably worried about the lack of planning. Safety for all needs to be the top priority, and I’m concerned that is not currently the case.”

Limmer, Kreun, and Housley have spent the last month interacting with affected Corrections Officers, staff, and others who will be impacted by the closure. All have reported the same resounding concern.

Employees at MCF-Stillwater have expressed worry over the decision to close the Stillwater facility without a transition plan in place.