Minnesota Lawmakers Demand Transparency on Stillwater Prison Closure

Minnesota lawmakers are calling for greater transparency surrounding the planned closure of the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) in Stillwater, raising concerns that the decision was rushed through the end-of-session budget negotiations without sufficient public input.

In May, lawmakers finalized a budget agreement that included a provision to close the Stillwater facility by June 2029 through a phased process. The decision was added at the last minute to the Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee Report, leaving legislators, prison staff, and families of the incarcerated with little opportunity to weigh in.

In response, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter this week to the chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, requesting 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 Sen. Warren Limmer, lead member on the committee. “A change like this deserves proper vetting. Governor Walz and his Department of Corrections Commissioner did a great disservice to the public when they circumvented that process.”

Employees at MCF-Stillwater have raised concerns about job security and the lack of clarity in how the closure will be carried out. Some have described the decision as “dangerous” and “disrespectful to staff.” Families of those incarcerated have also spoken out, worrying that transfers to other facilities could complicate visitation and access to important documents.

Sen. Michael Kreun said the decision highlights the need for an open process where Minnesotans can be heard. “Changes like this should happen in the open and not be done behind closed doors – when state dollars and state officials are dictating these massive changes that will affect many individuals in the state, it is our duty to make sure these discussions are held in an arena that provides for public input from those affected,” Kreun said.

The letter, dated August 8, was signed by Sens. Limmer, Kreun, Karin Housley, Jeff Howe, and Torrey Westrom. It asks Judiciary Chairs Ron Latz, Jamie Becker-Finn, and Paul Novotny to convene a hearing so that corrections staff, inmates’ families, and the public can be part of the discussion.

Although the closure plan has already been approved as part of the budget, lawmakers emphasized that Minnesotans deserve the opportunity to weigh in on how the transition will be handled over the next several years.