ST. PAUL, Minn. – For years, AFSCME members have fought against the private prisons industry that puts profits over public safety. We have a long track record of banning private prisons in states across the country.
AFSCME corrections officers and staff in Minnesota are the latest to declare victory over private prison companies. They pushed hard for more than 15 years to pass state legislation that bans private prisons across Minnesota. And just last year, they finally won that fight.
In 2023, the Minnesota legislature passed and the governor signed a bill to outlaw private prisons. Under the law, the state Department of Corrections and local sheriffs can house inmates only in facilities that are owned and operated by state or local governments.