Minnesota lawmakers are calling for more transparency and a public hearing on the Stillwater prison’s closure as hundreds of inmates have already been transferred.
The gradual closure of the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater in Bayport was announced on May 15 as part of a budget deal, but it quickly drew pushback from lawmakers, correctional staff and unions who said there was no notice or public discussion of the decision.
Five Republican senators — Warren Limmer, Michael Kreun, Karin Housley, Jeff Howe and Torrey Westrom — recently sent a letter to the Judiciary Committee chairs asking to schedule a public hearing on the closure.
“Prior to the announcement of Stillwater’s closure, there were no committee hearings to discuss the closure, so it was a shock to hear it was placed in the final budget bill without any input from legislators, officers, or family members of those incarcerated,” said Limmer, R- Maple Grove. “A change like this deserves proper vetting. Gov. Walz and his Department of Corrections Commissioner did a great disservice to the public when they circumvented that process.”
As of July 25, Stillwater’s population had been reduced from 1,120 to 802, including inmates who have been released, the DOC told Forum News Service. The DOC plans to further reduce Stillwater’s population to 550 by mid-September, according to the Aug. 8 letter from the Senate Republicans.
Senators wrote that given this “aggressive timeline,” the public should be afforded a hearing as the closure unfolds.
“Even though the plan has been set in motion by Governor Walz and Commissioner Schnell, the public deserves the opportunity to engage and provide feedback throughout this process,” said Kreun, R-Blaine.
Most inmates from Stillwater have been transferred to Oak Park Heights — the closest facility — with 84 moved there. Another 78 have gone to Lino Lakes, 44 to Rush City, 37 to Faribault and 10 to Moose Lake, according to July 25 reports from the DOC.
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In a statement from the Department of Corrections in July, the agency confirmed that inmates do not have a say in where they are being moved.
“Facility transfers and placement decisions prioritize medical and mental health continuity, educational and rehabilitative programming, and to the extent possible, proximity to support systems as is required by law,” the DOC said. “As planning continues, we welcome the input and suggestions of impacted incarcerated persons.”
The phased closure of Stillwater is expected to conclude by June 2029. Paul Schnell, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections, said in May that the decision was driven by the facility’s deteriorating infrastructure.
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