Sen. Torrey Westrom (R–Alexandria) is calling for immediate public hearings on the decision to close the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater and is urging the state to pursue a common-sense solution: reopening the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton. Westrom emphasized this in a recent video showcasing the Appleton prison, noting the facility’s readiness, and calling it an immediate solution to meet Minnesota’s correctional needs.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay hundreds of millions for new prison construction when we already have a Big Beautiful Building in Appleton ready to go,” Westrom said. “Leasing or purchasing Appleton is the most practical and cost-effective option. It would restore hundreds of good-paying jobs to West Central Minnesota, strengthen public safety, and ensure Minnesota doesn’t go down the Democrats’ current path of trying to release inmates sooner or avoiding prison altogether for heinous crimes, like we’ve seen in Minneapolis.”

During end-of-session budget negotiations in May, a phased closure of MCF–Stillwater by June 2029 was added at the last minute to the Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee Report. The decision came without meaningful input from legislators, MCF–Stillwater staff, or the public.

In response, Westrom and Rep. Paul Anderson (R–Starbuck) wrote a letter to Gov. Tim Walz and Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell urging serious consideration of reopening Appleton. The lawmakers noted that Appleton’s 1,600-bed capacity matches Stillwater’s and that reopening the well-maintained facility would be faster and more cost-effective than building a new one.

Additionally, Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter on Aug. 8 to Judiciary Chairs in both the House and Senate, demanding a public hearing on the closure. The letter was signed by Sens. Warren Limmer, Michael Kreun, Karin Housley, Jeff Howe, and Westrom.

“The Big Beautiful Building is there, the beds are there, and the community is ready. It’s time to use common sense and act before Stillwater’s closure leaves a massive hole in our corrections system,” Westrom said.