First‑Time Visitor Checklist for MCF St. Cloud: What to Do Before You Arrive

Before filling out a visiting application, do a quick eligibility check. MCF St. Cloud automatically denies visiting privileges in certain legal situations - even if you'd otherwise qualify. The big ones: an active no-contact order between you and the incarcerated person, being a co-defendant or accomplice in an active case, having pending or open criminal cases, or being on probation for less than one year (or having probation violations within the last year). If any of these apply, address that first. Counting on being cleared at the door won't work.

• ✓ There is no active order prohibiting contact between you and the incarcerated person
• ✓ You are not a co-defendant or accomplice to the incarcerated person in an active case
• ✓ You do not have any pending or open criminal cases
• ✓ If you’re on probation, it has been at least one year and you have not had violations within the last year

Wait for your application to be approved before visiting MCF St. Cloud. The facility notifies you by email, and processing can take several weeks. Plan your trip around that approval message - showing up early won't help if your application hasn't cleared yet.

When you apply, you'll need to upload a scanned copy of an accepted ID. Make sure it's valid - expired or canceled driver's licenses don't count. One detail that trips people up: the address on your application must match the address on your ID, or your application can be denied.

• ✓ Upload a scanned copy of an accepted ID as part of your application
• ✓ Double-check that your ID is not expired or canceled (expired/canceled driver’s licenses don’t qualify)
• ✓ Enter the same address on your application that appears on your ID

Bringing a child takes extra prep. Anyone under 18 must be escorted by a parent, legal guardian, or authorized escort. You also need to submit a copy of each minor's state or county birth certificate with the visiting application. Birth certificates won't be accepted on the day of the visit, so gather these documents early.

• ✓ Make sure any visitor under 18 will be escorted by a parent, legal guardian, or authorized escort
• ✓ Upload a copy of each minor’s state/county birth certificate with the visiting application (it won’t be accepted at the time of the visit)

Expect searches as part of entry. At MCF St. Cloud, all visitors and their belongings may be searched for contraband at any time. Refuse a search, and you won't be admitted.

Be extremely careful about what you bring onto facility grounds. Introducing controlled substances, firearms, weapons, or explosives without the warden's consent is a felony. Introducing alcohol without consent is a gross misdemeanor. The safest move: leave anything questionable at home and arrive with only what you need.

On the day of your visit, match everything to what you submitted. Bring the same valid ID you used for your application - expired or canceled driver's licenses don't qualify. Have your approval email accessible, since you shouldn't visit until you've received that notification. If you're bringing anyone under 18, confirm the minor will be escorted by a parent, legal guardian, or authorized escort, and that birth certificate copies were already submitted with the application.

• ✓ A valid ID that matches your application (not expired or canceled), with the same address you listed
• ✓ Your visiting approval email (available to show if needed)
• ✓ If a minor is visiting: confirm they will be escorted by a parent/legal guardian/authorized escort and that their state/county birth certificate copy was submitted with the application (not brought for day-of acceptance)

If your application is denied, check it against MCF St. Cloud's common disqualifiers. Denials happen when there's an active order prohibiting contact, you're a co-defendant or accomplice in an active case, you have pending or open criminal cases, or you've been on probation for less than one year and/or had probation violations within the last year. Reapplying usually only makes sense after the disqualifying issue no longer applies.

1. Identify the disqualifier - Check whether the denial lines up with a no-contact order, co-defendant/accomplice status in an active case, pending/open criminal cases, or recent probation/violations.
2. Resolve what you can - If the issue is an active legal restriction (like a no-contact order) or an open case/probation status, you’ll need to address that before visiting privileges can be approved.
3. Reapply only after the issue changes - Once the disqualifying condition is no longer true, submit a new application.