# Minnesota Department of Corrections *State agency that operates Minnesota's adult prisons and juvenile correctional facilities* The Minnesota Department of Corrections is the state agency of [[Minnesota]] that runs the state's prisons and juvenile correctional facilities. Its headquarters is in St. Paul.[^1] Formed in 1959, it is led by a commissioner whom the [[governor]] appoints.[^1] Wikipedia's account states that, as of 2010, the state did not contract with private prisons, and that the Prairie Correctional Facility, the state's first and only private prison, was closed by its owner that year.[^1] Much of the primary record of the agency consists of its own documents. Its *Corrections Retrospective 1959–1999* records the following events:[^2] - disturbances put down with bayonets, firearms and tear gas; - a hostage-taking and a stabbing of a warden; - escapes; - the 1975–76 murder of an inmate in his cell, followed by a legislative investigation. The department also inspects county jails. Its reports record licensed capacity, compliance percentages and rule violations at the Washington County jail in 2023 and at the [[Dakota County jail]] in 2023 and 2025.[^3][^4][^5] ## Organization The department was formed in 1959 from three predecessors: the Corrections Division of the Department of Public Welfare, the Youth Conservation Commission and the Board of Parole.[^1] Its commissioner is a gubernatorial appointee who may name as many as two deputy commissioners. Wikipedia lists Paul Schnell as the holder of the post as of January 7, 2019.[^1] Licensure as a peace officer is not a condition of employment, and most department staff are not licensed. The exceptions are the Fugitive Apprehension Unit (FAU) and certain investigative positions in the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) and the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA).[^1] Department documents also identify officials of earlier administrations. The department issued an *Annual Report on Obsolete, Unnecessary, or Duplicative Rules* dated November 23, 2004. The report was issued under Commissioner Joan Fabian pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 14.05, subd. 5.[^6] It lists Peter Orput, Policy & Legal Services Director, Community Services Division, as its contact.[^6] A 2019 published list of signatories to a Brendan Dassey pardon letter gives Orput a different title: General Counsel of the department from 2004 to 2006.[^7] The department's own November 2004 report gives his title at that date as Policy & Legal Services Director.[^6] ## Juvenile services Juvenile correctional facilities are among the department's operations.[^1] MCF–Red Wing, in the city of Red Wing, houses delinquent boys; it was built in 1889.[^1] The Togo site in northern Itasca County began in 1955 under the Youth Conservation Commission and was long called Thistledew Camp.[^1] It took the name MCF-Togo in 2006, and the Thistledew name was kept for its juvenile programs.[^1] According to Wikipedia, MCF-Togo no longer takes delinquent boys and girls and now holds only adult males in a CIP program.[^1] ## Programs ### MINNCOR Prison labor in Minnesota traces to twine made at [[Stillwater prison]] in the 1870s.[^1] [[MINNCOR]], formed in 1994, brought the work of several sites together under centralized management.[^1] State law requires it to pay its own way, and Wikipedia reports that it has done so since 2003.[^1] MINNCOR sells goods made in its own shops to public-sector buyers and supplies incarcerated labor to private firms under contract.[^1] It remains within the department and under its policies but is organized like a business and led by a chief executive officer.[^1] Its EMPLOY program, begun in 2007, recruits incarcerated people into jobs after release.[^1] ### Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop The Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop was established in 2011 with classes at the Minnesota State Prison at Lino Lakes. By 2020 it had reached every adult facility in the state.[^1] ### Minnesota Restitution Center Commissioner David Fogel backed the Minnesota Restitution Center, which opened in September 1972.[^1] For its first two years the center housed men convicted of property crimes.[^1] Staff arranged meetings between victims and offenders inside state prisons. Once paroled to the center's residence in the [[Minneapolis]] YMCA Central Building, the offenders paid restitution to the victims.[^1] ## Compliance and inspection record The department inspected the Dakota County Jail from July 12 to July 21, 2023.[^4] The report recorded:[^4] - a licensed capacity of 263 beds; - 99.19 percent compliance with mandatory rules; - a violation of [[Rule 2911.6800]], with the finding that "Medication records do not enable staff to account for the quantity." Corrective action was due October 30, 2023. The inspectors also noted "over-reliance on special watches."[^4] The department's Dakota County inspection report of June 24, 2025 records that licensed capacity was raised to 270 beds effective April 4, 2025.[^5] It also records:[^5] - 99.22 percent mandatory compliance; - a violation of [[Rule 2911.6500]], because temperature was "not checked or logged for 22 different days from 01/01/25 thru 05/11/25"; - a corrective plan due July 31, 2025; - authority to operate through July 31, 2027. The department's Washington County Jail inspection report of April 12, 2023 records the following:[^3] - 240 rated beds, with the jail operating at 228 (95 percent of approved capacity); - 98.41 percent compliance on mandatory rules; - two mandatory-rule violations. The first violation concerned Rule 2911.5000 well-being checks. The 30-minute inmate observations were "out of compliance with the 30-minute time frame." Inspectors also found the checks "observed to be at too fast of a pace to observe the well-being of the inmates."[^3] The correction deadline was July 26, 2023, with monthly audits to be submitted.[^3] The second violation is not described in the record held here. ## Institutional history The department's *Corrections Retrospective 1959–1999* records the following incidents in its prisons:[^2] - **1960:** 150 bayoneted guards forced a group of inmates back to their cells, and tear gas was used in a separate disturbance.[^2] - **1970:** three officers were taken hostage, and armed inmates tried to walk out wearing uniforms.[^2] In the same year the warden fired a shotgun at inmates cutting through bars, and a second disturbance was put down with firearms and tear gas.[^2] - **1971:** an inmate stabbed the warden; the inmate was later committed as mentally ill and dangerous.[^2] - **1975–76:** an inmate was murdered in his cell, and a legislative investigation followed.[^2] - **1977, 1979 and 1982:** escapes.[^2] - **1983:** a disturbance.[^2] The retrospective also records that [[MCF-Oak Park Heights]] was authorized in 1976 and opened in 1982.[^2] The Minnesota Historical Society's MNopedia entry on the prison at [[Stillwater]] covers a 1969 tear-gas and solitary-confinement episode and a suit by the [[Department of Human Rights]].[^8] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The commissioner is appointed by the governor; Paul Schnell held the office as of January 7, 2019.[^1] - Commissioner Joan Fabian headed the department when the November 23, 2004 rules report was issued; the report named Peter Orput, Policy & Legal Services Director, as its contact.[^6] - Commissioner David Fogel championed the Minnesota Restitution Center in 1972.[^1] ### What - The department operates prisons and juvenile correctional facilities.[^1] - It inspects county jails and records their compliance with mandatory rules.[^3][^4][^5] - MINNCOR, its prison-industries unit, is organized like a business and led by a chief executive officer.[^1] ### When - 1959: the department is established.[^1] - September 1972: the Minnesota Restitution Center opens.[^1] - 1976: MCF-Oak Park Heights is authorized.[^2] - 1982: MCF-Oak Park Heights opens.[^2] - November 23, 2004: the rules report is issued.[^6] - April 12, 2023: Washington County Jail inspection.[^3] - July 12–21, 2023: Dakota County Jail inspection.[^4] - June 24, 2025: Dakota County inspection report.[^5] ### Where - Headquarters: St. Paul.[^1] - Juvenile facilities and successor programs: MCF-Red Wing in Red Wing and MCF-Togo in northern Itasca County.[^1] ### Why - The 2004 rules report was filed under Minn. Stat. § 14.05, subd. 5.[^6] ### How - By statute MINNCOR must be financially self-sufficient.[^1] ### How many - Dakota County licensed capacity rose from 263 beds (2023) to 270 beds effective April 4, 2025.[^4][^5] - Dakota County mandatory compliance was 99.19 percent in 2023 and 99.22 percent in 2025.[^4][^5] - Washington County had 240 rated beds, 228 in operation and 98.41 percent mandatory compliance (April 12, 2023).[^3] - 150 bayoneted guards were deployed in 1960, and three officers were taken hostage in 1970.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota Department of Corrections* (revision 1361178968, retrieved October 25, 2026) — headquarters, 1959 establishment, commissioner, staffing, juvenile facilities, MINNCOR, programs, private-prison status. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Department_of_Corrections [^2]: Minnesota Department of Corrections, *Corrections Retrospective 1959–1999* — incidents of 1960, 1970, 1971, 1975–76, 1977, 1979, 1982 and 1983; MCF-Oak Park Heights authorized 1976, opened 1982. https://mn.gov/doc/assets/docretro_tcm1089-271689.pdf [^3]: Minnesota Department of Corrections, *Washington County Jail inspection report* (April 12, 2023) — 240 rated beds; 228 in operation; 98.41 percent mandatory compliance; Rule 2911.5000 findings; July 26, 2023 deadline. https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Washington%20County%20Jail_tcm1089-594861.pdf [^4]: Minnesota Department of Corrections, *Dakota County Jail inspection report* (inspection July 12–21, 2023) — 263 beds; 99.19 percent mandatory compliance; Rule 2911.6800 violation; corrective action due October 30, 2023. https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Dakota%20County%20Jail%202023_tcm1089-611871.pdf [^5]: Minnesota Department of Corrections, *Dakota County inspection report* (June 24, 2025) — 270 beds effective April 4, 2025; 99.22 percent mandatory compliance; Rule 2911.6500 violation; authority to operate through July 31, 2027. https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Dakota%202025_tcm1089-696976.pdf [^6]: Minnesota Department of Corrections, *Annual Report on Obsolete, Unnecessary, or Duplicative Rules* (November 23, 2004) — filed under Minn. Stat. § 14.05, subd. 5; Commissioner Joan Fabian; names Peter Orput, Policy & Legal Services Director, Community Services Division. https://www.leg.mn.gov/docs/2004/mandated/040615.pdf [^7]: Patch (Waukesha), *Full List Of 250 Who Signed Brendan Dassey Pardon Letter* (October 24, 2019) — lists Peter J. Orput as General Counsel, Minnesota Department of Corrections (2004–2006). https://patch.com/wisconsin/waukesha/full-list-250-who-signed-brendan-dassey-pardon-letter [^8]: Minnesota Historical Society, *MNopedia*, entry for Minnesota State Prison at Stillwater — 1969 tear-gas and solitary episode; Department of Human Rights suit. https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/place/minnesota-state-prison-stillwater