What You Need to Know Before Your First Visit to MCF‑Stillwater
Your first visit goes smoother when you plan for the rules ahead of time. This checklist covers scheduling, dress code, contraband, and how to avoid getting turned away at the door.
Visits at Minnesota DOC facilities, including MCF‑Stillwater, are by appointment only. You can't just show up - call the facility and schedule your visit in advance.
- ✓ Your full name (as it appears on your ID)
- ✓ Your relationship to the incarcerated person
- ✓ The incarcerated person’s full name
- ✓ Their Minnesota DOC Offender ID (OID)
- ✓ A couple of preferred dates and times
- ✓ A phone number where staff can reach you if anything changes
Dress conservatively - this applies to everyone, including kids. Your clothing needs to cover your shoulders, upper and lower back, midriff, and cleavage. Staff can turn you away if your outfit doesn't meet the dress code. When in doubt, go simple and fully covered.
- ✓ Usually works: T‑shirts that fully cover shoulders and midriff; long pants; modest dresses that don’t expose back, midriff, or cleavage
- ✓ Likely to get you turned away: crop tops; low‑cut tops; clothing that exposes your shoulders, upper/lower back, midriff, or cleavage; torn or cut clothing that reveals those areas
Be careful about what you bring onto facility grounds. Introducing contraband is prohibited, and the DOC takes it seriously. If something's on the contraband list, don't try to sneak it through hoping no one notices.
- ✓ Controlled substances (including tobacco and tobacco-related items)
- ✓ Cell phones
- ✓ Cameras
- ✓ All watches
- ✓ Wearable technology devices
- ✓ Money
- ✓ Chewing gum
- ✓ Weapons
When Safe Visiting rules are in effect, physical contact is limited. You can hug and shake hands when you arrive and again when you leave - but that's it. Expect this boundary going in so you can focus on your time together without corrections staff stepping in.
Note: Safe Visiting rules can also require masks for the incarcerated person and for all visitors over age 2 during the visit.
Plan your ride so you're not waiting around on the grounds. The DOC doesn't allow people to wait in the parking lot, and you can't leave minors or animals in vehicles on facility property.
- Handle drop-offs and pickups off-site - If someone is waiting for you while you visit, they need to leave institution grounds and come back at a designated time; don’t plan on having them sit in the parking lot.
- Never leave kids or pets in the car - Minors and animals may not be left in vehicles on facility grounds.
- Know the child-seating rule in the visiting room - Children age nine and under may sit beside the incarcerated person or on their lap, but only one child at a time may be on the incarcerated person’s lap.
Need to reach someone in Minnesota DOC custody or confirm scheduling details? Start by getting their Minnesota DOC Offender ID (OID). The DOC has a search page where you can look it up. For general questions, the Minnesota Department of Corrections lists central office contact information for families, including phone, fax, address, and a contact directory.
- ✓ Look up and write down the Minnesota DOC Offender ID (OID) before you call or plan a trip
- ✓ Confirm your appointment details before you travel
- ✓ Use the DOC contact directory or central office contact information if you need help verifying information or figuring out the right place to call
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