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State Representative Andrew Falk
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4228
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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INMATE EXODUS AT PRAIRIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED
APPLETON, MN - The Minnesota Department of Corrections (MDOC) recently informed State Representative Andrew Falk (DFL - Murdock) that it plans to pull 300 low-level criminal offenders out of Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota. Pressed by budget constraints, MDOC plans to detain the prisoners at state-run facilities throughout Minnesota. Rep. Falk is concerned this dramatic exodus of inmates will cost the Greater Appleton community more jobs during an already difficult economic recession.
“Unemployment in Swift County is already approaching 8 percent," said Rep. Falk. “We need to be doing everything we can right now to protect jobs in our community, not eliminate them.”
Falk expressed that efforts made during the 2009 Legislative Session could have prevented potential job losses at Prairie Correctional Facility. During budget negotiations MDOC indicated that contracting with Prairie - a privately owned prison - was more expensive than holding the inmates in state-run facilities. But Falk countered that the public/private partnership was actually saving the state money and providing hundreds of good-paying jobs in West-Central Minnesota.
“Minnesota’s partnership with Prairie Correctional Facility has produced positive results in Swift County,” said Rep. Falk. “It has been a model for public and private collaboration that has provided a quality service for the state and hundreds of jobs in the Greater Appleton area. That’s why it was so important to do everything we could last session to make certain a tight budget didn’t send inmates packing, and jobs elsewhere.”
Recognizing the state’s concerns, and the serious budget constraints facing Minnesota’s prison system, Rep. Falk organized a meeting early in the legislative session with Department of Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian, Prairie Correctional Facility, and its parent company Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to discuss budget strategies that would minimize job losses in Appleton. Unfortunately, CCA didn’t show and would not allow Prairie staff to be at the table.
“There were steps CCA could have taken to avoid this situation,” Falk said. “I co-authored a bill that would have strengthened the state’s relationship with Prairie by transferring inmates from Moose Lake’s state-owned, medium security facility to Prairie. That simple effort would have kept inmates at Prairie and saved jobs in our community.”
Commissioner Fabian agreed, supporting Rep. Falk’s efforts so long as CCA met the state half-way by more effectively marketing their services and proving its ability to handle mid-level offenders. Again, CCA failed to cooperate.
“’Unfortunate’ isn’t the right word to describe this situation,” said Rep. Falk. “Imminent layoffs at Prairie will hurt hard working families in our community when they can least afford another hard economic blow; but what hurts most is knowing that pain could have been avoided.”
Rep. Falk is in communication with MDOC, Commissioner Fabian’s office, and CCA. In the coming days and weeks Falk hopes a compromise solution can be reached to stem potential job losses in Appleton and again strengthen the state’s partnership with Prairie.
“For the sake of our local economy, we need to secure a viable long-term solution that will keep these good-paying jobs in this community,” said Rep. Falk. “While recognizing the reality of a difficult budget situation, I am confident we can help CCA and the Department of Corrections find common ground and restore this important partnership between the State of Minnesota and Prairie Correctional Facility.
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