Stillwater prison to close in phases over 4 years

STILLWATER, Minn. (FOX 9) - The State of Minnesota will be closing the aging prison in Stillwater in phases, with a full closure expected by the end of June 2029.

MCF-Stillwater closing

Why you should care:

The decision to close the Stillwater prison comes amid a budget agreement between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders, which they announced on Thursday morning.

The DOC says Walz and lawmakers "have agreed to a phased closure of MCF-Stillwater to consolidate the state’s prison facilities to enhance the DOC’s economic efficiency, to end state investments into the crumbling infrastructure at MCF-Stillwater, and to minimize the ongoing health and safety concerns the facility presents to both staff and the incarcerated population."

Walz on Thursday said the state will take four years to phase out the prison, noting the "deferred maintenance that needs to be done to keep Stillwater even operational is becoming unsustainable."

According to the DOC, the deferred maintenance needs at the facility are currently estimated at $180 million and fully modernizing or replacing the facility on site has an estimated cost of $1.3 billion. 

Walz says the DOC has the capacity within the existing system to be able to house those incarcerated at the Stillwater prison in a safer manner and get the operational costs down. 

The DOC says, over time, the phased closure of the prison will result in annual state savings of more than $40 million.

"This legislative decision enables the decommissioning of an outdated institution and supports the state's goal of maintaining a modern, safe, and cost-effective correctional infrastructure while aligning fiscal resources with budgetary priorities," the DOC said in a press release.

This phase out will not impact the sentences of those who are currently incarcerated and there will be no early releases, Walz said.

Dig deeper:

The Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater was built in 1914, and is the second-oldest prison facility and the largest "close-security" institution for adult men in the state.

The prison houses 1,100 incarcerated individuals and employs about 560 staff members, Walz said. Some staff members may have to be laid off, the DOC says. 

Staff and inmates have complained about conditions at the prison for years, including inmates protesting over clean water in 2023. 

Phasing out the Stillwater prison

Timeline:

The Minnesota Department of Corrections is planning a two-phase approach that aims to reduce operations at the prison, and then a step-down to a full closure of the site. The DOC says "This strategy will maintain critical service options at the Stillwater facility while still achieving significant cost savings and maintaining safety throughout the system."

Phase 1: Reduce operations

The first phase will reduce operations. Once the public safety omnibus bill passes and is signed into law by Gov. Walz, DOC leadership will initiate steps to reduce the population of incarcerated people and operational footprint at the prison over several months. 

During the first phase, about half the prison population will be transferred to one of the DOC's other nine facilities for men. However, several units will remain at the Stillwater prison during the first phase. 

Staffing will also be reduced in phase one. The DOC will try to transfer staff to other positions, "but a reduction in staffing is expected." 

During phase one, the DOC will launch two studies — a management study to guide operations, staff logistics and community considerations, as well as a decommissioning study to plan the long-term future of the Stillwater site, including a future for the site's buildings and land. 

Phase 2: Full closure

Starting in July 2027, the DOC will start the final transition to fully vacate the Stillwater prison, transferring the remaining inmates and staff. 

The full closure of the Stillwater prison is expected by June 30, 2029. 

Reaction to Stillwater prison planned closure

What they're saying:

DOC Paul Schnell

"This is a moment of real change for our agency," said Paul Schnell, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections. "We fully recognize the impact this decision will have on both the lives and careers of the Stillwater staff and on the incarcerated people for whom Stillwater has been home for years or even decades. We will be open and honest with staff and the incarcerated population throughout the implementation."

Sen. Ron Latz and Sen. Kelly Moller

Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Chair Ron Latz and House Public Safety Chair Kelly Moller released the following statement in response: 

"The Stillwater Correctional Facility is a 111-year-old facility that can no longer provide safe conditions for prisoners or staff without hundreds of millions of dollars in modernization and refurbishment efforts. The facility fails to meet federal standards for incarcerated individuals, and faces leaks, flooding, dangerously hot temperatures and ongoing structural deterioration. These are unsafe conditions for everyone within that prison and make it difficult to meet the Department of Corrections’ goal of rehabilitation and reducing recidivism."

"For the safety of those that work at the Stillwater Facility and those in incarceration there, closing the facility is the right decision. But we know that closing this facility will have ripple effects for those that work there, for those incarcerated there, and for the loved ones of both. The phased closure of the facility will be done with a focus on minimizing both disruptions for staff and impacts to the local community. The legislature is committed to working with the staff at the facility and labor unions to ensure as minimal staff impact as possible through this process, and to ensure the Department of Corrections provides clarity and choice when possible." 

Rep. Josiah Hill

"I was informed of the closure this morning and have been in touch with local leaders and leadership at the DOC. This is a difficult development to process in the final hours of session. While there is no question that the facility was in unacceptable condition that endangered both correctional staff and incarcerated persons, there is also no question that it is an integral piece to the fabric and history of our community," said Rep. Josiah Hill (DFL - Stillwater). "In the coming days, I will focus on working with the employees as they prepare to transition, to ensure that they and their families are fully supported and cared for. I will also work closely with the DOC to guarantee the safety and well-being of each and every incarcerated person in the Stillwater facility; their dignity and humanity must be a top priority and should not suffer due to the decades-long underinvestment in the facility and the resulting need to shutter it."

MinnesotaCrime and Public Safety