Minnesota’s Only Correctional Work Farm
NERCC is a minimum/medium correctional facility in a work farm setting, providing education, treatment, and trade opportunities to incarcerated men.
NERCC is a Class VI facility by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Services include: education, vocational training, treatment, recreation, medical services, substance abuse treatment, mental health therapy, cognitive-behavioral programming, treatment for men who sexually abuse, and domestic violence programming.
NERCC accepts referrals from other counties outside the Arrowhead Region and as a part of the MN Department of Corrections Restructure Program. Contact Kathy Lionberger at lionbergerk@arcmn5.org or 218-729-3411.
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GREENHOUSE
The NERCC Greenhouse + Garden Center is where the men grow flowers and a variety of vegetables.
In the Spring we have flowers and vegetable plants. In the Autumn, we have hay, pumpkins, cornstalks, firewood, and vegetables — all available for purchase.
Visit NERCC’s Facebook page for updated info about what we have growing.
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MEAT MARKET
Come see our impressive shop in Saginaw, Minnesota. Drop in anytime during our business hours without an appointment!
Our Meat Market is open year round. Residents at NERCC are learning vocational skills, including farming and meat processing. Click the button below to view current hours.
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MEAT PROCESSING
NERCC provides meat processing services to local farmers and hunters, open to the public.
The meat processing facility allows NERCC to raise and process food for the residents.
Click the button below to learn more about making a meat processing order.
We believe people can change.
The Northeast Regional Corrections Center (NERCC) is a high integrity correctional facility in a work farm setting providing Justice-Involved Men educational opportunities and practical skills to thrive in the world after rehabilitation.
NERCC also has retail spaces: meat processing services, a Farm Fresh Meat Market, a full scale Greenhouse (flowers and vegetables), as well as farm produce and hay for sale.
We provide incarcerated men with tools to create change in their lives.
We offer education, vocation, and programming opportunities that translate into successful life and work skills.
Farm experiences offer justice-involved men a fresh start — back to the basics of life.
To feel in-touch with the natural environment around them, to learn skills to be self-sufficient… time and again, we have seen this process work for residents at NERCC.
Life + Job Skills
The NERCC facility and its buildings sit among 3,200 acres bordering both Fish Lake and Caribou Lake.
NERCC dates back to the 1930’s as a work farm with full logging, lathe mill, dairy, laundry, beef, poultry and hog operations filling facility needs and those of surrounding counties. Many of the farm's original buildings are still standing and being used.
NERCC is a necessary resource to address the jail overcrowding issues in the five county region (St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Koochiching), reducing the use of state prison beds.
NERCC Offers Opportunities
NERCC teaches life and job skills, including substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, treatment for men who sexually abused, cognitive programming, education, farming, animal care, maintenance, mechanics, food service, meat cutting, and greenhouse plantings. These experiences provide a lifelong skill set for the men to use in their search for employment.
Day to day work activity allows the men to contribute to the cost of their stay and provides the community with valuable resources.
The Northeast Regional Corrections Center (NERCC) is a minimum / medium security institution providing 144 beds for adult males, operated by Arrowhead Regional Corrections; a joint powers agency operated by Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties.
It is licensed as a Class VI facility by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Services include education, vocational training, treatment, recreation, and medical services.
Work With Us
Click below to learn more about current employment postings.