Who Handles What at MDOC: Which Office to Contact for Common Questions
Been bounced between offices trying to get a straight answer? You're not alone. Here's how to match your question to the right Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) office—starting with St. Louis Correctional (SLF), then moving up to specialized MDOC departments.
For most day-to-day questions about St. Louis Correctional - especially visiting - start local. Email mdoc-stlouis-public@michigan.gov for general questions and visiting applications. Many issues get resolved faster at the facility level, so reaching out here first can save you time.
Questions about how a prison is run - overall operations, day-to-day oversight - go to the Correctional Facilities Administration (CFA). This branch operates the state's prisons, with administrative offices in Lansing overseeing the network of secure facilities. Local wardens report up through CFA leadership.
Once someone is in the community - or preparing to be - the right office usually isn't the prison. It's the Field Operations Administration (FOA). FOA handles state parole and probation supervision, electronic monitoring, sex-offender caseloads, and anything connected to the Parole Board. Directing these questions to FOA keeps them from getting routed in circles.
Media requests and broader MDOC communications go to the Office of Public Information and Communication. They handle press inquiries, public-facing questions, social media, and the quarterly newsletter. If you've tried the facility contact and your question is more department-level than unit-level, this is often your next stop.
Questions about programming and release preparation go to the Offender Success Administration. They coordinate the Prisoner Reentry program, focused on preparing people for successful reentry and reducing recidivism. Education and vocational services fall under this umbrella too.
Medical and mental health concerns go to the Bureau of Health Care Services. They coordinate and monitor prisoner health care, including the corrections mental health program for seriously mentally ill prisoners. If your issue is specifically about health care or mental health treatment - not custody, discipline, or visitation - this bureau is where to focus.
Need to send mail to MDOC central offices? Address it to: Grandview Plaza, 206 E. Michigan Ave., P.O. Box 30003, Lansing, MI 48909. Central office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST - helpful to know if you're timing a call or follow-up.
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