ST. CLOUD — Christmas behind bars comes with little of the typical holiday cheer for inmates at St. Cloud prison.

But staff members at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud are working to give it some holiday touch with religious services, treat bags and special Christmas meals. The prison is a starting point for up to 400 convicts each month who later move on to other facilities.

Warden Collin Gau says it’s the first holiday away from family and friends for many inmates.

Chaplain Bill Dornbush said holiday solitude forces some offenders to reflect on and regret their crimes.