OBFC Releases Updated Report on Minnesota Prison Infrastructure Crisis
The Office of the Ombuds for Corrections (OBFC) has released an update to a February 2024 report that urges Minnesota to invest in safer environments for corrections staff and incarcerated people by updating infrastructure and replacing obsolete prisons.
The updated Crumbling Conditions Create Crisis in Minnesota Prisons contains supplemental recommendations to address increasing deterioration of our state prisons. The updates include recommendations for infrastructure updates that would allow for the eventual closure of Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Stillwater, which needs such significant updates that investments may not be realistic.
The updated recommendations include options to:
- Expand capacity at other Minnesota prisons in lieu of capital investments at MCF-Stillwater.
- Prioritize a therapeutic facility for the growing number of incarcerated people who are aging, especially those affected by aging, chronic illness, mental health needs, substance use disorders, and disabilities.
- Reduce the prison population for who pose little public safety risk and could be better served in community.
The full report highlights ongoing and worsening structure issues in Minnesota prisons and how they reduce safety for corrections staff and incarcerated people.
Additional Updates from the Ombuds for Corrections
In January, the Ombuds for Corrections published the 2024 Annual Report. The report provides updates on the increased complexity and demand for our services and features examples of how our office continued working toward effective resolution of complaints and addressing systemic challenges in Minnesota’s corrections system.
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