Lori Soderholm, MCF-Faribault Stepping up in a time of need

I’m really proud of our team of case managers at Minnesota Correctional Facilities – Faribault. We are essential employees who, due to where our assigned offices are, do not have the opportunity for social distancing. Each wing of our building houses 104 offenders. Our team has volunteered to step into roles we do not traditionally fulfil – like feeding inmates, screening incoming offenders, participating in the command post, court by video conference and training for chemical irritant training to provide additional security coverage for our facility. When an early release policy became effective April 14, central office expected MCF-Faribault to release offenders early, with two days’ notice and limited guidance regarding the paperwork. The case management team have banded together during this time of social distancing and put public safety first. We support one another. We all have families and lives, and yet everyone is stepping up and doing their best.