by ST. PAUL — Correctional staff and labor unions in Minnesota held a press conference on Friday, May 16, calling on lawmakers and Governor Tim Walz to stop the planned closure of the Stillwater correctional facility.
The state’s legislative leaders and Governor Walz recently agreed on a budget deal that includes shutting down Stillwater — Minnesota’s second-largest prison, which currently houses about 1,180 inmates, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The closure is planned to happen gradually over the next four years.
Bart Andersen, executive director of AFSCME Council 5, criticized the decision, saying it was made behind closed doors without involving staff. He added that no clear plans have been shared with employees, and warned that closing Stillwater could “create chaos across the entire corrections system.”
