Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee

The Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee (MCF-SHK) is a women-only state prison in Minnesota, USA.^[1]

Constructed in 1986 and located in Shakopee, Scott County, it is Minnesota's only facility for housing female offenders.^[2]

MCF-SHK is home to 500+ women of all five custody levels. The Facility consists of ten buildings, including six inmate living areas (including a chemical dependency treatment unit, parenting unit and education unit), a mental health unit and a segregation facility, an industries building, and administration and engineering related buildings.

MCF-SHK is also the only prison in Minnesota without a perimeter fence or wall. Even given the lack of a secure perimeter, there have been a very low number of escapes or attempted escapes, the last being in 1997 by a young teen who wished to attend a free Smashing Pumpkins concert.

MCF-SHK is home to a chemical dependency treatment unit, a program that promotes and teaches good parenting skills (where children can stay with their mothers in a special parenting living unit on a Friday night once a month), and was formerly home to a work-release style program for women. Cosmetology, office support classes, as well as several college courses are also offered to the women. MCF-SHK also has a service dog training program where women train dogs to become service dogs.

References

1. Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee
2. Gilbert, Curtis (May 20, 2014). "Shakopee women's prison to finally get a fence". MPR News. Retrieved May 23, 2015.

Coordinates: 44°47′24″N 93°32′18″W / 44.79000°N 93.53833°W