St. Paul, MN (trfnews.i234.me) — The impending closure of the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater has sparked concerns from Republican lawmakers over the future of the state’s prison capacity.
State Senator Michael Kreun of Blaine says the move could lead to severe overcrowding in Minnesota’s correctional system. Kreun believes that shutting down the Stillwater prison, one of the state’s most well-known and long-operating facilities, will further strain an already stretched prison infrastructure.
The facility is set to close by 2029, with a phased shutdown already underway.
Meanwhile, DFL Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega of St. Paul, who has toured the Stillwater facility, defended the decision. She called the prison conditions “unsafe for everyone,” citing concerns about the well-being of both inmates and staff.
“That was the decision they made,” Perez-Vega said, referring to state officials’ move to shut down the facility over time rather than make further investments into what critics say is a deteriorating structure.
The debate reflects broader tensions over prison reform, public safety, and facility investment in Minnesota. The Department of Corrections has not yet announced how it plans to reallocate or house displaced inmates as the Stillwater facility winds down operations.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.