How to Address a Letter to Someone at MCF Lino Lakes — and What Happens to Mail & Photos
Getting mail to someone at MCF Lino Lakes comes down to two things: addressing it exactly the way Minnesota DOC requires, and understanding that most incoming mail gets processed and scanned before your loved one sees it. Here's the format to use and what to expect for letters, photos, and greeting cards.
Addressing Format
- ✓ Incarcerated person’s full legal name
- ✓ DOC OID number (their Minnesota DOC ID number)
- ✓ Facility name (for example, “MCF Lino Lakes”)
- ✓ The word “Minnesota” spelled out (do not abbreviate it)
Minnesota DOC's example format looks like this:
Incoming mail doesn't go straight to the prison. Minnesota DOC routes it first to a processing service outside the state - in their example, a P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland (ZIP 21131).
At the processing center, your mail is opened and scanned. Your loved one receives a printed copy of what you sent - not the original paper letter. Minnesota DOC put this third-party scanning system in place to reduce drug contraband entering facilities.
Keep expectations realistic about originals: Since mail is opened and scanned, your loved one will receive a copy of letters. The same goes for photos and greeting cards - they'll likely get a printed copy, not the original you mailed.
Prefer sending messages and photos electronically? Minnesota DOC's website has instructions for emailing, and they also reference TextBehind as a service option. TextBehind lets you send letters, photos, and greeting cards digitally - your loved one still receives a delivered copy rather than a physical original.
Tip: Check the Minnesota DOC website instructions before you send anything electronically - vendor rules and options can change, and details matter for delivery.
Tips and Contact
- ✓ Always include the DOC OID number with the person’s full name
- ✓ Use the full facility name (MCF Lino Lakes)
- ✓ Write out “Minnesota” (don’t abbreviate it)
- ✓ Double-check spelling and the basic format before you seal the envelope
- ✓ When in doubt, match the Minnesota DOC example format as closely as possible
If something seems off - mail not arriving, questions about what was delivered, concerns about missing originals - contact the facility directly using the information in the Minnesota DOC Friends and Family Handbook. Still need help? Families can submit concerns through the Office of the Ombuds for Corrections (OBFC). Just keep in mind that "missing originals" may not be an error - it's how the system works.
Before you mail anything: The Minnesota DOC handbook example shows an out-of-state processing address (Phoenix, Maryland), but this article doesn't include a confirmed, facility-specific processing address for MCF Lino Lakes. Check the current mailing instructions on the Minnesota DOC mail page before sending time-sensitive items.
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