Minnesota to close Stillwater prison by 2029 as operational costs stack up
Minnesota's Stillwater correctional facility is set to close by 2029, as part of a budget agreement struck by the Legislature.
The facility houses between 1,100 and 1,200 inmates and employs roughly 560 people, but the operational costs of the 111-year-old building have become "untenable," Gov. Tim Walz said.
"The deferred maintenance that needs to be done to keep Stillwater even operational is becoming unsustainable," Walz said while announcing the bipartisan budget agreement Thursday morning.
After the announcement, Stillwater prison was put on lockdown as a precaution.
Over the years inmates and staff have criticized the conditions inside the site. In 2023, Stillwater went into lockdown after inmates protested water quality issues within the prison. More than 100 men refused to return to their cells, decrying the extreme heat conditions — as the prison has no air conditioning — and limited access to ice and showers.
During a press conference Thursday, Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell said that on a hot Minnesota day, temperatures in the kitchens could reach 120 degrees, and top tiers of the prison could be 100 degrees, with only fans to alleviate the heat.
State officials estimate that maintenance costs would hover around $180 million, and the cost of replacing the facility would be upwards of $1.3 billion. The four-year phased closure will result in annual state savings of $40 million.
The decision to close Stillwater will include no early releases. There will also be no changes to current incarceration sentences, as officials believe they have the capacity to house inmates in the existing system. Schnell said placements will be focused on security and health care needs of each inmate.
"This is a moment of real change for our agency," said Schnell. "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."
During the first phase of the closure, half of the inmates will be transferred to one of the other nine male facilities, and there will be staff reductions, though officials say they'll work to transfer staff to other positions if possible.
The union representing correctional officers and staff warn the decision puts public safety, staff and offenders at risk.
"This is not just a prison, it is a vital institution in Minnesota's corrections system," said Bart Andersen, executive director of AFSCME Council 5. "The proposed closure of the Stillwater Correctional Facility undoubtedly puts lives on the line, overcrowds other facilities, destabilizes our system and may unjustly displace hundreds of dedicated workers and their families."
The department will conduct a management study to guide the operations, as well as a decommissioning study to plan for the long-term future of the site. The facade of the facility is a national historic site, which must be taken into consideration.
Beginning in July 2027, the department will start vacating the facility entirely. The full closure expected to be complete by June 30, 2029.
Schnell added that the closure of the facility mirrors a nationwide trend as officials believe consolidating operations is the best way to manage funds.
Corrections officers plan to hold a press conference on Friday.
