Minnesota Department of Corrections Problems Demand Accountability at Rush City
Minnesota Department of Corrections problems at Rush City Correctional Facility are drawing renewed scrutiny as incarcerated people and staff report misconduct, unsafe conditions, low wages, restricted communication and limited access to rehabilitation resources. Advocates say accountability and humane reform are urgently needed to protect dignity, safety and successful reentry.
Serious and ongoing problems within the Minnesota Department of Corrections, particularly at Rush City Correctional Facility, deserve public attention.
One of the most troubling issues is staff misconduct. A Minnesota Department of Corrections employee at Rush City has reportedly been investigated four times for sexual misconduct. Despite those investigations, the Correctional Officers Union successfully advocated for the employee’s return to work.
In one documented case, a female correctional officer wore a wire and recorded being coerced into sexual acts. She has since resigned. Situations like this raise serious concerns about accountability and safety for both staff and incarcerated people.
Economic conditions inside Minnesota prisons also demand scrutiny. In July 2025, canteen vendor Canteen Charlie increased prices without any corresponding increase in prisoner wages. Incarcerated workers earn pennies per hour while relying on the canteen to purchase food, hygiene items and email access.
If labor is required, compensation should reflect basic dignity. A reasonable starting point would be increasing all prison jobs to at least $2 per hour, as is done at MCF Stillwater, or moving closer to minimum wage to help people maintain family connections and prepare for reentry.
Creative outlets have also been restricted. In 2024, the Department of Corrections limited hobby craft beadwork, citing concerns about contraband hidden in finished pieces. While security is important, the alternative provided, beading foundation, significantly diminishes artistic quality.
A better solution already exists through hobby craft permits, which allow completed work to be inspected and mailed. Art plays a critical role in mental health and rehabilitation and should not be unnecessarily curtailed.
Mail restrictions have further isolated incarcerated people. All personal mail is now processed by TextBehind, an out-of-state company, resulting in prisoners receiving photocopies instead of original letters.
During times of loss, even obituaries are reduced to copies. Minnesota could invest in on-site mail screening or modern scanning technology, such as X-ray machines used in Hawaii’s prison system, rather than outsourcing the process.
Access to communication has steadily declined. Tablets, once used for education, programming and connection, are no longer available for purchase or repair. The failed GTL tablet rollout suffered from inadequate Wi-Fi infrastructure, but removing tablets entirely is not the answer. Allowing incarcerated people to purchase existing JPay tablets with clear disclaimers would restore vital access while longer-term contracts are resolved.
Recreation options have also been mishandled. In 2024, game consoles were briefly offered, then removed after culturally insensitive games were discovered. Rather than banning consoles outright, Minnesota could follow other states by properly vetting content and recognizing the role structured recreation plays in reducing violence.
Visitation policies have become increasingly restrictive. In 2025, Rush City began enforcing a rule requiring both prisoners and visitors, including those with disabilities, to keep their feet flat on the floor at all times. Prison photography services have also been eliminated, depriving families of meaningful keepsakes despite adequate staffing.
Minnesota made phone calls free in 2023, but frequent modified lockdowns at Rush City severely limit access. Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell has said most violence at Rush City stems from phone-related tension. Solutions are straightforward: Install additional phones and expedite tablet contracts with calling capabilities.
The punishment for committing a crime is the loss of freedom, not exposure to unsafe, degrading conditions. Meaningful reform requires accountability, humane policies, and attention to voices from inside Minnesota’s prisons.
Keith Hapana Crow is currently serving at Rush City Correctional Facility and submitted this commentary through the Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee.
For more information, visit www.mniwoc.org.
Pana – wopdia koda. Miss you bro , keep ya head up, I think of you often brother. Nice article, keep calling their bs out. From Big Ed The Red Laker. Much love bro.
This is hilarious. When you become an officer and experience what its really like on a day to day bases then you can write whatever this junk is 🤣🤣😡