Union leaders say Stillwater prison closing is 'dangerous' and 'disrespectful' to staff

Staff, union leaders responds to Stillwater prison closing

Correction officers and union leaders are calling for state leaders to stop the closure of Stillwater prison. They claim they were not warned about the closure, and have not been given a plan for going forward.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Correctional staff and union leaders are calling for state leaders to stop the closure of Stillwater prison. 

Push to stop Stillwater prison closure

Stillwater prison to close in phases over 4 years

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. FOX 9's Mary McGuire has the story.

What they're saying:

Labor unions representing correctional officers and staff in the Department of Correction held a press conference Friday, asking state leaders, both Republican and Democrat, and Gov. Tim Walz to stop the closure of Minnesota Correctional Facility–Stillwater (MCF–Stillwater). 

They are warning about public safety concerns, and putting offenders and correctional staff at "grave risk". 

Union leaders say they are demanding a halt to the closure, and have a "public conversation" about the future of Minnesota correctional facilities. 

Correction officers that work at MCF-Stillwater are saying they are being "left in the dark" after the announcement of the closure, and they have been given no plan going forward. They continue to say they don't know what is going to happen to their jobs at MCF-Stillwater. 

Correction officers are also warning that MCF-Stillwater closing could lead to an over-population of other facilities, which could be dangerous for offenders and staff. 

Staff also claimed they had no warning the facility was going to close. 

Stillwater prison set to close

Stillwater prison to close in phases over 4 years

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. FOX 9's Mary McGuire has the story.

The backstory:

The State of Minnesota will be closing MCF-Stillwater in phases over four years, with a full closure of the prison by the end of June 2029.

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."

READ MORE: Stillwater prison to close in phases over 4 years