The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) has ordered the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center (ADC) to submit a capacity reduction plan to the DOC by close of business on February 6 after its investigation into a complaint.

The DOC’s investigation determined the facility’s failure to meet minimum staffing levels poses an imminent risk of life-threatening harm or serious injury to individuals within the facility. Today’s capacity reduction order requires Ramsey County ADC to reduce its population to levels designed to ensure staffing sufficient to maintain the safety and wellbeing of those in the facility.

The order was issued after the DOC investigated the complaint detailing multiple licensing rule violations stemming from inadequate staffing levels, which included the facility’s refusal to transport those in custody to offsite emergency medical care, despite direction from the ADC’s healthcare authority, which is a violation of Minnesota Rule 2911.5800, subp. 2.

“As the state’s licensing authority, any risk to the life and safety of those in custody must be addressed immediately,” DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell said. “When the stakes are this high, taking decisive action quickly is a must.

The DOC found those impacted by this denied or delayed emergency medical care included a person suffering a stroke, a person who had ingested drugs, a person brought in following a car accident, and a person who was bleeding for two hours without medical attention.

The Ramsey County ADC Conditional Licensing Order comes less than a week after a similar order was imposed on the Beltrami County Jail.

Full details of the DOC’s order can be found on the DOC’s public website, here.