How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at MCF Moose Lake (Step-by-Step)

Don't make the trip to MCF Moose Lake until your application has been approved. The Minnesota DOC will email you at the address you provided, letting you know whether you were approved or denied. Plan ahead on timing. Applications can take several weeks to process, so don't panic if you don't hear back right away - especially if you're trying to schedule a first visit for a specific weekend.

Prep Documents

• ✓ Full legal name (and any previously used names)
• ✓ Email address (this is where your approval/denial notice is sent)
• ✓ Date of birth and gender
• ✓ Current address and phone number
• ✓ Your relationship to the incarcerated person
• ✓ A scanned copy of an accepted ID to upload
• ✓ An ID that is not expired or canceled (an expired/canceled driver’s license does not qualify)
• ✓ An address on your application that matches the address shown on your ID (a mismatch will be denied)

Before you start the form, gather your exact identity and contact details so you can enter them consistently. The application asks for your full name (plus any previous names), email, date of birth, gender, address, phone number, and your relationship to the incarcerated person. Having everything in front of you helps prevent typos that could slow things down.

The DOC uses the information on your application to decide whether you'll be approved to enter the facility. Part of that process includes a criminal-history check with law enforcement. Even if you're denied, your application stays on file. The DOC states that the criminal-history check results are destroyed after the decision.

Certain situations trigger automatic denials, so check these before you apply. If there's an active order prohibiting contact between you and the incarcerated person, your application will be denied. You'll also be denied if you're a co-defendant or accomplice in an active case with the incarcerated person, or if you have any pending or open criminal cases. Probation status matters too: if you've been on probation for less than one year, or you've had probation violations within the last year, expect a denial.

Once approved, expect to be searched when you arrive. All visitors and their belongings may be searched for contraband at any time on facility grounds. Refuse the search, and you won't be admitted. Understand the legal stakes around contraband. Under Minnesota law (MSA 243.55), bringing controlled substances, firearms, weapons, or explosives into a state correctional facility without the warden's consent is a felony.

1. Submit the application with the email you actually check - the DOC uses the email you provide to tell you if you’re approved or denied.
2. Make sure your ID is valid and upload it - an expired or canceled driver’s license doesn’t qualify for visiting purposes.
3. Match your address exactly - the address on your application must match the address on your ID or the application will be denied.
4. Wait before making plans - processing can take several weeks, and you shouldn’t attempt to visit until you’ve received the approval notice.