Retaliation alleged for inmate’s criticism

In February 2024, Willie Crump, an inmate housed at Faribault Minimum Security Prison at the time, reached out to MSR claiming he faced retaliation after publishing an opinion piece about the prison’s conditions. Crump’s story, which centered around the dire state of Faribault and his struggles with the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC), prompted MSR to follow up with him a year later, especially after his transition from Faribault to the 180 Degrees halfway house at 236 Clifton Avenue in Minneapolis.

Since MSR’s article was published on February 1, 2025, Crump has been sent back to prison. His attorney, Michael McLaughlin, who represented him in a case against the DOC, condemned the hearing that led to Crump’s re-incarceration as prejudiced and unconstitutional. 

“Inmates on work leave have a right to due process,” said McLaughlin. “The DOC made it so all that needed to be shown is that 180 Degrees terminated him. But they didn’t provide an examination as to why.”

According to McLaughlin, Crump was not given an opportunity to present a defense. The court simply informed him that his work release had been revoked and that he would be sent back to prison. McLaughlin asserts that Crump’s defense centered on the belief that his termination from the halfway house was retaliatory — a consequence of his outspoken criticism of the living conditions at Clifton House.

Crump’s claims about Clifton House mirror his previous criticisms of Faribault Prison. He alleged that conditions at the halfway house were unsafe, unsanitary, and violated basic human rights. Among the issues he highlighted were mold, asbestos, unsafe drinking water, pest infestations, a lack of hygiene facilities, and the misuse of both organizational and personal funds. 

He also described instances of mistreatment by the DOC and Clifton House staff, further accusing the facility of retaliation for his complaints. Crump even raised concerns about potential fraud involving his Social Security number.

When MSR published the article in February, the publication reached out to 180 Degrees, the organization responsible for operating Clifton House. In an interview with executive leaders Dan Pfarr (CEO) and Richard Coffey (COO), they downplayed Crump’s complaints. They explained that Clifton House, a longtime re-entry program, was undergoing a $5 million renovation during Crump’s transition, suggesting that he was simply dissatisfied with the process. 

Pfarr acknowledged past facility issues but highlighted recent improvements such as a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and enhanced security measures. These changes were exhibited to MSR during the visit, which also featured a table laden with groceries — an occurrence Crump noted as rare.

However, Crump called the interview process a “cover-up.” In a call from prison he said, “The way they handled the whole interview thing was weird. The two you spoke to [Dan Pfarr and Richard Coffey] are never even at Clifton House.”

MSR was able to speak with Gina Sullivan, a Clifton House employee who corroborated Crump’s claims. Sullivan said that a week passed before anyone at Clifton House could provide a clear reason for Crump’s work release termination. 

“They [Clifton House leadership] said he violated his policy or whatever, but they never specified exactly what the violation was,” she said. Sullivan admitted that when she saw Crump’s article, “I was afraid of what was going to happen to him…that they were going to find some way, somehow, to get him back,” she said.

Sullivan also confirmed some of the grievances Crump had voiced. “What Willie is saying, unfortunately, is the truth,” she stated. She described one example, claiming Clifton House residents were left to eat dry cereal from cups due to low food inventory and a lack of proper utensils. 

Sullivan says she expressed her frustrations with the management’s priorities, but faced repercussions. “They took me off of work for three weekend shifts without pay…because at this point, I know too much.”

Crump had also attempted to voice his concerns about these issues to the DOC, writing letters to the department in an effort to address the inadequate conditions at Clifton House. However, Crump claimed that his letters went unaddressed and were eventually returned. 

MSR contacted Commissioner Paul Schnell, who confirmed receiving Crump’s letters. When asked why the letters were sent back, he said it was “not appropriate for me to get involved, due to due process.” Asked about the justification for terminating an inmate’s work leave, Commissioner Schnell said, “It’s usually for multiple instances.”

Mark Hanson, Crump’s former supervisor at Better Futures Minnesota during his transition at Clifton House, emphasized Crump’s likeability. “Willie was a great employee… He always did what he was told, and always had a really positive attitude. We never had any issues,” said Hanson.

David Boehnke, a member of the Incarcerated Workers Committee, also echoed a positive experience with Crump. He says the outcome of Crump being sent back to prison isn’t a reflection on him, but a larger system at hand. 

“There’s a lot of things that are wrong with the criminal justice system, and a lot of people who are stuck in these systems are pretty afraid to talk about what’s going on because of retaliation,” Boehnke said. “Willie is not trying to be retaliated against, but he’s willing to say what needs to be said — or to report what’s going on so that other people can learn about what’s happening — and so those conditions can change.”

Currently, attorney Michael McLaughlin is continuing to work on Crump’s case, seeking justice for what he believes to be a violation of due process and retaliation against his client for speaking out about the conditions at Clifton House.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.