Letters to the editor: Legislature must save Willow River program

It was very sad and discouraging to hear the Challenge Incarceration Program in Willow River will be closing.

On Aug. 6 I had a good conversation with the Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell.

The Willow River CIP is a very efficient, successful correctional program. It has helped many male offenders turn their lives around and become contributing members of society. Compared to other correctional programs, Willow River has a lower recidivism rate.

The CIP has become a big part of our community. I remember when the floods hit our area, the men there were helping to fill sandbags. The work crew has volunteered many hours improving our county fairgrounds and helping community organizations. The facility provides 51 good-paying jobs and has a large impact on our entire economic region. These correctional workers have put their lives on the line during this pandemic crisis. Some of them have even contracted the coronavirus. I pray they will not have any unforeseen lasting health effects.

We must all stand up and support the Willow River CIP. We cannot afford to have these jobs leave rural Minnesota. It also does not make sense to shut down a successful program that is working and producing positive results. No business model would follow this approach.

The simple solution is our house and senate representatives need to work together and pass the supplemental budget for the governor to sign. This would provide the funding to keep the program open. We need to contact our legislators around the state to get this done. The Willow River CIP must continue because it’s the right thing to do.

Gary E. Peterson, Carlton County Commissioner