Politics & Government

Lockdown in Effect at Stillwater Prison

'Orderly process' began Thursday, the Star Tribune reported.

Prisoners at Stillwater Prison are in a lockdown, according to the Star Tribune


"The 'ongoing security procedure' didn’t result from a disturbance but rather gives prison staff time to fulfill other responsibilities, said John Schadl, the DOC’s communications director. Stillwater prison, housing about 1,600 men and many of them violent offenders, is Minnesota’s largest close-custody prison.

"During the lockdown, prisoners won’t have access to the prison school, industries, chapel and other activities, Schadl said. He said an ending date for the lockdown, which began Thursday, hasn’t been decided but will be re-evaluated next week."

Find out what's happening in Stillwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lockdowns are relatively unusual, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported: 

"The last full-prison lockdown in Stillwater was during Minnesota's government shutdown in 2011. Statewide, the St. Cloud prison was locked down in fall 2010 to control a 'fight-type incident,' but the Stillwater lockdown is not 'an incident of that magnitude,' [Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesman] Schadl said.

Find out what's happening in Stillwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"No specific incident prompted the lockdown, and Corrections Department officials do not comment on ongoing security operations. Lockdowns are a tool used by the department to ensure all inmates are safely accounted for so security operations can be completed, according to Schadl."

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