Lois Tucke, Deaf and Hard of Hearing services at DOC, Region 13 Director, MAPE steward

At a time when the entire state is encouraged to “stay at home,” many of us at the Dept. of Corrections are serving Minnesotans on the front lines – both inside our correctional facilities and in our communities. MAPE professionals within our facilities continue to provide critical services that offenders rely on while, including much needed mental health services.  Our supervised release agents play an essential role in our offender’s reintegration into society.

Facility Wardens have developed and implemented “stay with unit” plans, which is a prison’s version of “stay at home,” and our agency has modified programming schedules to encourage social distancing as much as possible. 

This is an unprecedented time in our world, so it is vital that the agency think creatively and work with the employees to develop new approaches to staffing, schedules and programming plans in our facilities that keep everyone healthy and safe.