What to expect inside: common facility rules and operational items to plan for
Facilities have strict rules about what you can bring or drop off. One North Dakota county detention center allows prescription medication to be brought in 24 hours a day, but clothing left for inmates must be approved by detention staff. That same facility does not allow items to be left for inmates who are transported in from DOCR for court or who have been ordered to serve their sentence at DOCR.
Plan for operational procedures that can affect timing. One county correctional center screens all new admissions for COVID-19 symptoms at booking, and symptomatic individuals are isolated until a negative test result is acquired. That same facility publishes public fingerprinting hours and requires $25 cash and ID. If your loved one has an issue after release, one county detention center gives you seven days from the date of release to file a complaint about any issue during confinement. You will receive a written response within thirty days.
Common Questions
Q
Can I leave money or packages with staff at a North Dakota prison or jail?
It depends on the facility, but ND DOCR states that money is not accepted in person or in the mail at NDSP, MRCC, JRCC, or HRCC, so you must use the approved methods listed by DOCR. Some county facilities do accept cash deposits through a lobby kiosk, and one county detention center states cash may be brought in 24 hours a day and deposited in the lobby kiosk. Always follow the specific facility’s deposit or vendor instructions before you go.
Q
How do I report sexual abuse or file a PREA complaint for a facility in North Dakota?
Look for the facility’s PREA page or policy, which often lists a PREA Coordinator or administrator contact and may accept third-party reports. One county facility instructs third parties to write, call, or email the administrator or PREA Coordinator, and it also lists the county sheriff as a reporting contact. Another county detention center’s policy also states it accepts third-party reports.
Q
If an inmate was booked with cash, what happens to that money?
Some facilities deposit paper cash into the person’s account system during intake. One North Dakota inmate handbook example explains that paper money (bills only) found at booking was deposited into the TurnKey system for commissary use, and the inmate is issued an account number and PIN. That same handbook also explains that a facility’s indigent policy can be separate from court indigence determinations.
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