How to Send Mail to Someone at MCF‑Stillwater (what happens and how to address it)
Sending mail to someone at MCF‑Stillwater works differently than regular postal mail. Minnesota DOC uses a scanned-mail process, so understanding how it works—and how to address your envelope—can save you real frustration.
At Minnesota DOC facilities, including MCF‑Stillwater, incoming mail gets opened and scanned. Your loved one receives a copy of what you sent - not the physical letter itself. A third‑party vendor handles this scanning as part of DOC's effort to reduce drug contraband entering facilities. What this means for you: plan on them reading a scanned copy, not the original paper you mailed.
Note: Minnesota DOC’s mail is scanned through a third‑party vendor to help reduce drug contraband entering facilities.
The Minnesota DOC Friends & Family handbook shows exactly how to address your envelope: the incarcerated person's name, their MN DOC Offender ID (OID), the facility name, and then a P.O. Box for the scanning service. The handbook's example uses MCF‑St. Cloud. Use that format as your template - but don't copy the P.O. Box from the sample. It won't work for Stillwater. The two things that matter most are the full name and the MN DOC OID. DOC uses the OID to identify people in their system, and you'll be asked for it constantly.
- ✓ Incarcerated person’s full name
- ✓ MN DOC Offender ID (OID)
- ✓ Facility name (MCF‑Stillwater) and “Minnesota” (do not abbreviate)
- ✓ The correct vendor/P.O. Box address for mail processing (verify before you send)
Because mail is opened and scanned, your loved one will receive a scanned copy of your letter. That's standard. This changes expectations around originals. Even though you mail a physical letter, what they actually read is the scanned version. Don't be surprised if it looks like a reproduction rather than the exact paper you sent.
Heads up: Scanning and processing can add time before your loved one receives your letter.
- Start with the handbook format - Write the name and OID first, then the facility name (MCF‑Stillwater) and “Minnesota,” just like the handbook’s example.
- Check the official MCF‑Stillwater mailing instructions - Use the Minnesota DOC website’s facility information to confirm where mail should be sent for processing.
- Call if anything looks inconsistent - If you’re seeing different addresses in different places, contact the facility directly to confirm the correct destination.
- Use Central Office as a fallback - If you still can’t get a clear answer, contact Minnesota DOC Central Office (Phone (651) 361-7200; Fax (651) 642-0223; 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108).
Important: The handbook shows a sample address format, but the P.O. Box in the example isn’t a “universal” address for every facility - verify the correct mailing destination for MCF‑Stillwater before sending.
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- ✓ Put the full name and MN DOC OID on every letter (it helps DOC match mail to the right person)
- ✓ Include “MCF‑Stillwater, Minnesota” in the address block
- ✓ Keep a copy of what you send (since your loved one receives a scanned copy)
- ✓ Don’t send prohibited items in or with your mail
Be careful about what you include with a letter. Minnesota DOC treats many everyday items as contraband - tobacco, weapons, money, cell phones, cameras, watches, and wearable tech devices, among others. Trying to introduce contraband is serious. It's one reason the state moved to third‑party mail scanning. Introduction of contraband is punishable by law and can lead to sanctions or discipline for both the incarcerated person and visitors.
Warning: Introducing contraband is punishable by law and may lead to discipline or sanctions for both you and your loved one. If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, don’t send it until you’ve confirmed the rules.
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