Minnesota corrections dept. draws criticism amidst prison closure, K-9 policy change

Two significant changes are taking place at the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) this year. The first is the planned closure of the Stillwater prison. The second is a change that will all but end the agency’s K-9 program.

Facing a significant state budget deficit, Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders agreed to a two-year budget that includes a plan to permanently close Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater. One of the state’s oldest prisons, MCF-Stillwater holds nearly 1,500 inmates.

According to a DOC closure plan, the state will begin transferring “approximately half” of MCF-Stillwater’s prisoners to one of the nine other male prisons later this year. During this phase, officials will study the logistics of fully vacating the property and decommissioning it for other potential uses.

The prison closure is expected to be fully completed by June 30, 2029. The DOC has noted that the prison closure will save Minnesota roughly $40 million annually. However, the agency has said “a reduction in staffing is expected.”

On top of this, DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell issued an internal memo this week informing agency staff that the department will all but end its K-9 program.

According to that memo, the DOC’s thirteen K-9 teams will be reduced to just “two single purpose drug detection K-9 teams to serve the agency systemwide.” This change is slated to take place on November 5th and is a dramatic shift away from current operations.

At present, the department has thirteen K-9 teams. The teams are stationed at seven of the DOC’s eleven facilities across the state. According to the DOC’s policy manual, K-9 units are trained for a variety of purposes including facility searches, contraband detection, apprehension, and handler protection.

In his memo, Schnell discussed the costs associated with the K-9 program such as food, veterinary care, compensation to handlers, K-9 unit vehicles, and liability exposure. The commissioner explained that the significant reduction of K-9 units will allow the agency to keep more staff during the Stillwater closure process.

“When the phased closure of Stillwater was announced, the legislature directed, and the agency endeavored, to maintain as many correctional officer positions as possible,” wrote Schnell.

“Given this goal of maintaining security positions, agency leadership was required to make difficult budget decisions, including alteration of the size, scope, and focus of the agency’s K-9 program,” he added.

Legislators concerned by prison closure, officers frustrated by K-9 change

Earlier this week, a group of Republican legislators expressed skepticism about the DOC’s plan to close MCF-Stillwater. In particular, lawmakers criticized the lack of public hearings on the matter.

“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, R-Maple Grove.

“A change like this deserves proper vetting,” added the GOP lawmaker. “Governor Walz and his Department of Corrections Commissioner did a great disservice to the public when they circumvented that process,” Limmer said.

In turn, Limmer and other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee called for legislative hearings to consider and discuss the ramifications of the prison closure. The letter was signed by Sens. Limmer, Michael Kreun, Karin Housley, Jeff Howe, and Torrey Westrom.

“The Legislature shouldn’t abdicate its oversight responsibility when there are so many lives impacted by the decision to close this facility,” wrote the group.

Further, corrections officers frustrated by the effective dissolution of the K-9 program told Alpha News that they believe the agency is making a mistake.

One of those officers said the commissioner “is putting officer[s] further in harms way without the K-9 officers.”

“These officers are ill-equipped as it is,” continued the officer.

“They get one 4-ounce can of mace and handcuffs that’s it. If you have someone with a weapon the K-9s were the go-to [to] help de-escalate the problem. K-9’s are less then lethal amount of force. Schnell at no time has done anything to upgrade officer uniforms to include a stab [p]roof vest or any type of tactical gear to help officers,” said the officer, who wished to remain anonymous.

“Every decision he has made has decreased officer safety, including removing certain weapons from the towers,” added the officer.

Another corrections officer, a longtime K-9 handler, said the department’s decision “is a dangerous mistake for the safety of our facilities.”

Alpha News reached out to the DOC regarding the change to the K-9 units. The department responded with a message that reiterated the commissioner’s memo.

Liz Collin contributed to this report.

 

 

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