Minnesota
Staying connected with someone incarcerated in Minnesota means learning two systems: Minnesota DOC prisons and county or regional facilities that often operate differently. Here's the practical, Minnesota-specific info families ask about most: calls and messages, mail, money, contact numbers, and how visiting approval and video visits work.
Phone & Messaging
In Minnesota DOC, your loved one has to place the calls. If you call the facility, staff won't transfer you to them. You won't be charged to receive calls,...
Read guideFacility Info
Need to reach Minnesota DOC's central office? Here's the contact info from their Friends and Family materials: Minnesota Department of Corrections, Central...
Read guideKey facts to check about a specific Minnesota correctional facility
Before you plan visits, mail, or money, confirm the basics for the specific facility where your loved one is housed. Facility profiles can include current...
Read guideMail & Photos
In Minnesota DOC, incoming mail is opened and scanned, and your loved one receives a copy. Addressing matters: include their full name, DOC OID number, the...
Read guideSending Money
Minnesota DOC directs families to JPay to send money electronically. Always include your loved one's name, OID number, and facility when you send funds so...
Read guideVisitation
If your visiting application is denied, it's often tied to safety or active court supervision issues. Minnesota DOC lists denial reasons that include an...
Read guideFind an Inmate
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Common Questions
Q
Can I call an incarcerated person at the facility directly?
No. In Minnesota DOC, only an incarcerated person can place outgoing calls, and if you call a facility you will not be transferred to your loved one. DOC also notes that calls can be monitored or recorded for security.
Q
How should I address mail and will it be opened?
Address mail with your loved one’s full name, DOC OID number, facility name, and the word “Minnesota” spelled out (not abbreviated). Minnesota DOC says incoming mail is opened and scanned, and a copy is provided to your loved one.
Q
What is the easiest way to send money and what must I include?
Minnesota DOC materials point families to JPay for electronic funds transfers. DOC guidance says to always include the incarcerated person’s name, OID number, and facility when you send money.
Q
How do I schedule a video visit and how long are sessions?
DOC instructions say you first agree on a date and time with your loved one, then schedule the video visit through JPay. Sessions are sold in 30-minute increments, and DOC notes that if you disconnect early you are still charged for the full 30 minutes.