Stillwater Prison Inmate Protest Amid Heat Wave and Facility Conditions
Inmates at Stillwater Prison in Minnesota stage protest due to high temperatures and facility issues, resolved peacefully.
Inmates at Stillwater Prison in Minnesota stage protest due to high temperatures and facility issues, resolved peacefully. (PHOTO: K945)
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Inmate Protest in Stillwater Prison Amid High Temperatures and Facility Grievances
A potentially volatile situation at the Stillwater prison in Minnesota has been peacefully resolved, as approximately 100 inmates in one housing unit initially refused to return to their cells. According KTAR News, this act of protest is described as an act of “self-preservation” by a former inmate and was sparked by dangerously high temperatures in the region. The situation, however, remained calm throughout the day, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Corrections. Inmates expressed dissatisfaction due to the facility’s understaffing, which led to restrictions on their time outside their cells.
Advocates outside the prison, including some with family members incarcerated inside, cited concerns over excessive heat, lack of air conditioning, and limited access to showers and ice during recent lockdowns as the catalyst for the protest. The Stillwater prison, located in Bayport, experienced temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) on the day of the incident.
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Inmate-Led Protest Sparks Lockdown at Stillwater Prison: Concerns over Understaffing and Facility Conditions
Inmates reportedly made the decision to stay out of their cells early in the morning, prompting a lockdown status throughout the facility. The union representing correctional officers at Stillwater prison, led by Bart Andersen, suggested that chronic understaffing contributed to these conditions and the ensuing inmate dissatisfaction. Advocates maintained that the impromptu action was in response to unsafe conditions, including concerns about the quality of drinking water.
The incident at Stillwater prison highlights the growing concern over the well-being of prison populations during intense heat waves, particularly in facilities with inadequate ventilation or air conditioning. While this particular situation was resolved peacefully and without injuries, it underscores broader issues related to prison conditions and staffing in the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
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