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CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Minnesota murder victim's family retraumatized during parole process
Granting parole to a prisoner is a big decision that makes a big impact. Over the past year in Minnesota, the responsibility was turned over to citizens as part of new legislation. It used to be up to the commissioner of the Department of Corrections. So far, the Supervised Release Board has paroled a higher percentage of prisoners than any commissioner in the past 30 years. Current Commissioner Paul Schnell has reviewed the most cases, paroling nearly 17% of them. But one family says those statistics don't tell the whole story. The family of Mary Ann Hagford sits around a picnic table sharing memories of their sister and aunt as they wait for the parole hearing for her killer to start. "That's all we all we got, these pictures, these memories. She was young, 28, was just starting her life," brother Bob Hagford said. The grief wells up in their chests, the loss still present. "Boy, I'm gonna have a hard time with this, but yeah, Mary Ann was the youngest one in the bunch," Bob Hagford said. It was just before Christmas 1993. Mary Ann Hagford's live-in boyfriend, Paul Wilson, shot her in the head, killing her. They'd been drinking and had an argument in their Crystal, Minnesota, home over a Christmas tree. "There's not a lot of words, other than you're never going to see her," Bob Hagford said. A jury found Wilson guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. The judge sentenced him to life, with the possibility of parole after 30 years. They say Mary Ann Hagford's murder tore their family apart. "I was 14 when it happened. Nobody was around after this happened. Everyone was divided," nephew Michael Hagford said. The siblings found their way back to each other and are united in their desire for Wilson to stay in prison. For them, his apology letter came too late. "You'd figure there'd be remorse, days after, weeks after, you know, once you sober up. And we didn't get that for 20 years," Michael Hagford said. The family says they weren't notified ahead of Wilson's first hearing, but were present last year when the commissioner signed off on Wilson moving to a work release program. The family opposed it. "You come to these and you think, makes a difference. You come here and stay stuff, and it's going to mean something," brother Wayne Hagford said. On this day, the Hagfords listened as the Supervised Release Board questioned Wilson about why he should be free. "I believe I have grown, especially over this last year, to a person who can be a contributing member of what will be a new community," Wilson said. His wife, whom he married soon after the trial, was by his side. "I have done a lot of work to address emotions, to be able to be in emotions, not make them bigger than what they are sometimes and to have a choice," Wilson said. A member of the board questioned the prior decision made about Wilson. "Some of the things really concern me. And going back in time, I would not have voted for work release. And at this point, what are our options?" Jo Earhart said. After some discussion and reservations, the board voted to parole Wilson. "You can't put this genie back in the bottle, and the losses are insurmountable. And yet we want you to be successful. And we expect you to live a good life going forward," Schnell said. "My feeling is, is that justice wasn't served. He should be in there for a long time yet, but he's going to be free now. He's got the rest of his life and Mary Ann's got nothing," Bob Hagford said. Wilson is scheduled to be released in late August. The Department of Corrections told WCCO victims must sign up for the notification system to be alerted about updates and hearings. Click here to learn more.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Minnesota sheriffs sue Department of Corrections over new state inmate medication law
A newly filed lawsuit is asking for a temporary injunction to prevent from going into effect a new requirement that jails continue to administer medications to inmates that were prescribed before confinement. The lawsuit filed in Minnesota on Thursday challenges the constitutionality of the newly enacted statute. Among those suing Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell are Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang, Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander, Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea, Pennington County Sheriff Seth Vettleson, the Minnesota Sheriff's Association, St. Louis and Todd counties and multiple medical providers. Correctional facilities' "constitutional and statutory" obligation to provide adequate medical care to those in custody would be jeopardized, the lawsuit says, claiming that plaintiffs could be forced to give medications to inmates even if it would result in an overdose, have harmful interactions or be fatal. The statute does allow for changes to an inmate's medication if a facility's licensed health care professional consults with the person who prescribed the medication and gets permission for the change or if the inmate provides a written notice saying they no longer desire to take their medication. However, the lawsuit argues the provisions would be "problematic, if not impossible." "The reality is that inmates and detainees are brought to county jails at all hours of the day and night and every day of the year, including on weekends and holidays," the lawsuit says. "They frequently arrived during days and at times when community medical providers and pharmacies that provide prescriptions are not open and have no means to be contacted." The lawsuit says even if the prescribing providers could be reached easily, that they are "often inexperienced and unfamiliar" with issues correctional health care providers encounter, like alcoholism, use of street drugs, drug diversion and misuse, and other "security-related issues." If jails comply with the law, the lawsuit claims, they could face civil liability to patients and family members for violations of inmates' constitutional rights if the administering of the medication resulted in harm or death. On the other hand, the lawsuit states that if correctional facilities fail to comply with the law, they may risk penalties such as suspension and disciplinary actions on their jail licenses, which could impact their ability to care for inmates. In response to the lawsuit, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the law will not be enforced until Aug. 1 to give time for a decision to be made on the motion for a temporary injunction order. Ellison asked the court to set a hearing for July to decide before then. The Mental Health Work Group of Communities United Against Police Brutality, which helped craft the law, calls the lawsuit's claims that licensed health care professional would prescribe harmful or fatal medications for their patients "ridiculous." "The need for this reform became obvious as we heard from many people who have suffered serious consequences from being denied their prescribed heart and blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications, HIV drugs, mental health medications and sometimes even insulin," the group said in a statement. The organization says the statute was named after Larry R. Hill, the son of a former corrections officer who died in the Hennepin County Jail after not receiving his mental health medication. "The provision of mental health medications in the jails is especially important as people living with mental health conditions experience high levels of stress and anxiety in the jails and their conditions often deteriorate," the Mental Health Work Group of CUAPB said. "Ensuring access to mental health medications as prescribed allows people to better regulate their behavior and reduces assaults and other problem conduct within the jails, making them safer for everyone."
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Minnesota to close Stillwater prison by 2029 as operational costs stack up
Minnesota's Stillwater correctional facility is set to close by 2029, as part of a budget agreement struck by the Legislature. The facility houses 1,100 inmates and employs roughly 560 people, but the operational costs of the 111-year-old building have become "untenable," Gov. Tim Walz said. "The deferred maintenance that needs to be done to keep Stillwater even operational is becoming unsustainable," Walz said while announcing the bipartisan budget agreement Thursday morning. Over the years inmates and staff have criticized the conditions inside the site. In 2023, Stillwater went into lockdown after inmates protested water quality issues within the prison. More than 100 men refused to return to their cells, decrying the extreme heat conditions — as the prison has no air conditioning — and limited access to ice and showers. State officials estimate that maintenance costs would hover around $180 million, and the cost of replacing the facility would be upwards of $1.3 billion. The four-year phased closure will result in annual state savings of $40 million. The decision to close Stillwater will include no early releases. There will also be no changes to current incarceration sentences, as officials believe they have the capacity to house inmates in the existing system. Thursday afternoon, Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell will hold a press conference to detail Stillwater's phased closure. How to watch What: Schnell, officials announce details of Stillwater Correctional Facility's closure Schnell, officials announce details of Stillwater Correctional Facility's closure When: 1 p.m. 1 p.m. How to watch: You can watch live in the player above, on CBS News Minnesota app or on Pluto TV. "This is a moment of real change for our agency," said Schnell. "We fully recognize the impact this decision will have on both the lives and careers of the Stillwater staff and on the incarcerated people for whom Stillwater has been home for years or even decades. We will be open and honest with staff and the incarcerated population throughout the implementation." During the first phase of the closure, half of the inmates will be transferred to one of the other nine male facilities, and there will be staff reductions, though officials say they'll work to transfer staff to other positions if possible. During this time, the department will conduct a management study to guide the operations, as well as a decommissioning study to plan for the long-term future of the site. Beginning in July of 2027, the department will start vacating the facility entirely. The full closure expected to be complete by June 30, 2029. This story will be updated.
