Minnesota prison on emergency lockdown after dozens of inmates refuse to go back to cells.

A Minnesota prison has gone into emergency lockdown as approximately 100 inmates in one housing unit refused to return to their cells due to dangerously high temperatures, which they view as an act of self-preservation. While the situation is currently stable, the exact reason for the inmates' refusal remains unclear. Advocates outside the prison report that inmates are frustrated with the excessive heat, limited access to showers, and unclean drinking water. Inmates have been experiencing intermittent lockdowns due to staffing issues, forcing them to remain in cells without air conditioning. The prison's location in Bayport, near Minneapolis, has been under an afternoon heat advisory, further exacerbating conditions. The incident highlights concerns about chronic understaffing within the Minnesota Department of Corrections, leading to restrictions on program and recreation time. Inmates took impromptu action to protest the unsafe conditions, and crisis negotiation teams are now involved. The facility, built in 1914, lacks modern climate control, intensifying the challenges faced by inmates during heatwaves.