How to Address Mail to Someone at MCF Shakopee (so it actually gets there)
Mail rules can feel picky, but the format matters—especially in Minnesota DOC, where mail is processed before it reaches the facility. Use the exact format below so your letter gets routed correctly and delivered.
For mail to reach someone at MCF Shakopee, your envelope needs four things: the incarcerated person's full name, their DOC OID number, the facility name, and the word
Note: If any of those pieces are missing - or if “Minnesota” is abbreviated - your mail can get delayed, misrouted, or not processed the way you expect.
Minnesota DOC routes incoming mail through a processing service located outside the state. That's why the handbook's example address uses an out-of-state P.O. Box - even though your loved one is incarcerated in Minnesota.
What does this mean for you? Your letter won't arrive as the original piece of paper you mailed. Incoming postal mail is opened, scanned, and a copy is provided to the incarcerated person. Because of this extra processing step, expect mail to take longer than regular person-to-person delivery.
The DOC handbook shows this format: the person's full name on the first line, then
- ✓ Use the incarcerated person’s full legal name (first and last, plus middle if you have it)
- ✓ Add the DOC OID number on its own line (written as “OID# …”)
- ✓ Put the facility name as “MCF Shakopee”
- ✓ Write “Minnesota” in full (do not abbreviate it)
Abbreviating
- ✓ Full name is present and spelled correctly
- ✓ DOC OID number is included
- ✓ “MCF Shakopee” is clearly written as the facility
- ✓ “Minnesota” is spelled out (not “MN”)
If getting the message through matters more than sending the original paper, TextBehind is worth considering. This service lets you electronically send letters, photos, and greeting cards. It's a practical fit for a system where incoming mail is opened, scanned, and delivered as a copy anyway.
Quick-checklist
- ✓ Write the incarcerated person’s full name on the envelope
- ✓ Include the DOC OID number (OID#)
- ✓ Include the facility name: MCF Shakopee
- ✓ Write “Minnesota” in full (do not abbreviate)
- ✓ Expect mail to be opened and scanned, with a copy provided to the incarcerated person
- ✓ If you prefer an electronic option, TextBehind can send letters, photos, and greeting cards
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