MCF Willow River, MN

Before booking a visit at MCF Willow River, you'll need an approved visitor application. Approval typically comes by email but can take several weeks—apply early. Visits are appointment-only and may be held on-site or by remote video. For video visits, coordinate a date and time with the incarcerated person first, then schedule through JPay. You can edit existing visits on the JPay Video Visits page. Have the incarcerated person's MN DOC Offender ID (OID) ready, along with a valid, unexpired government photo ID and any required photos or documents for your visitor application.

Communication at MCF Willow River works differently than you might expect. Phone calls are outgoing only—the incarcerated person places the call, and you can't dial in or be transferred. The good news: calls are free. Phone calls and electronic messages are monitored for security, and messages that pose safety risks won't be delivered. The DOC requires a 15-minute gap between calls to ensure fair access. For video visits and electronic messaging, use JPay. Coordinate a date and time with the incarcerated person, then schedule through JPay (Video Visitation > Schedule New Visit). You can edit or delete visits from the Video Visits page. Video sessions come in 30-minute blocks and require a JPay account with a Visa or MasterCard on file.

Mail sent to MCF Willow River gets opened and scanned. Staff check for contraband, and the incarcerated person receives a digital copy rather than the original—delivery of the physical letter isn't guaranteed. Mail may also go through an external scanning process before distribution. To avoid delays, address every letter with the incarcerated person's full name, DOC OID number, facility name, and spell out "Minnesota" (don't abbreviate). Need to send funds? Use JPay and include the person's name, OID number, and facility with your payment. The Minnesota DOC reports that mail-scanning programs have significantly reduced overdoses and Narcan interventions inside facilities.

MCF Willow River accepts money transfers through JPay, which handles money transfers and electronic messaging for incarcerated people and their families. To send funds, use JPay's deposit process and enter the incarcerated person's full name, MN DOC OID number, and MCF Willow River so the payment reaches the right account. Deposits typically post to the person's commissary account for purchases, phone or tablet credit, and debt payments. Looking for alternatives to online transfers? Accepted methods vary by facility, so check the facility's approved deposit options and follow the vendor's instructions.