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🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in Minnesota.

Minnesota Department of Corrections manages the Minnesota state correctional system. Minnesota DOC's public viewer searches by OID number or name. Minnesota has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country and has invested heav
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10
State facilities
79
County jails
3
Federal facilities
9K+
State inmates

Minnesota State Prisons

10 facilities

Federal Facilities in Minnesota

3 facilities

Minnesota County Jails

79 facilities

Minnesota Department of Corrections

Minnesota DOC's public viewer searches by OID number or name. Minnesota has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country and has invested heavily in rehabilitation and reentry programming.

The official inmate search is available at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. FCI Sandstone in Minnesota houses federal inmates from the Upper Midwest.

Visitation in Minnesota Facilities

Minnesota DOC visitor approval requires an application and background screening. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Minnesota has expanded visiting options as part of its rehabilitation emphasis. Dress code enforced.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Minnesota prison directory.

Sending Mail to Minnesota Inmates

Minnesota DOC mail requires the OID number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Some facilities accept photos via JPay's digital photo service.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Minnesota facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.

Sending Money to Minnesota Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Minnesota:

  • JPay (deposits and digital photos)
  • Money orders mailed to facility
  • Lobby kiosks at some locations

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in Minnesota

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Minnesota:

Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Prisons

Are phone calls free at Minnesota state prisons?

Yes - Minnesota eliminated phone call fees at Minnesota DOC state facilities in 2023, joining a small group of states that have taken this step. Calls from MCF facilities are free for both the inmate and the person receiving the call, with no per-minute charge and no time limits imposed by the phone system. The change came after sustained advocacy documenting the financial harm phone costs impose on incarcerated families. The free call policy applies to Minnesota DOC state facilities - the 11 Minnesota Correctional Facilities. Minnesota county jails are operated by county sheriffs with their own phone contracts, and most still charge per call. If your family member is in a county jail awaiting trial, the free call policy does not apply to them yet.

What is an OID number in Minnesota?

OID stands for Offender Identification number - the unique identifier the Minnesota Department of Corrections assigns to every person in the DOC system. The OID must appear on all mail sent to MCF facilities. Find your inmate's OID number through the Minnesota DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us. It also appears on all DOC paperwork and court commitment documents. The OID stays with your inmate through their entire sentence regardless of how many facility transfers occur. Keep it written somewhere accessible - you'll need it for mail, JPay deposits, and any communications with facility staff or Minnesota DOC centrally.

What is Oak Park Heights?

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Oak Park Heights in Stillwater is Minnesota's only Level 5 (maximum security) facility and one of the most architecturally secure state prisons in the United States. Opened in 1982, it houses Minnesota's most serious and highest-risk offenders, including those serving life sentences. Visiting at Oak Park Heights is more restricted than at other MCF facilities - hours are more limited and the process is more involved. Contact MCF Oak Park Heights at 651-779-2700 for specific visiting procedures before planning a visit. Despite its security level, Oak Park Heights maintains lower violence rates than comparable maximum-security facilities in many other states - a reflection of Minnesota DOC's different approach to corrections overall.

Does Minnesota have a good approach to incarceration?

Minnesota consistently has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the United States - roughly 185 per 100,000 residents compared to a national average nearly double that. The state has invested significantly in alternatives to incarceration, community-based programming, and evidence-based approaches to both sentencing and release. Minnesota eliminated phone fees, has strong programming across its MCF facilities, and treats family contact as a meaningful factor in incarceration and reentry policy. Researchers and reform advocates frequently cite Minnesota alongside Scandinavian countries as an example of a different approach to incarceration. This does not mean incarceration in Minnesota is easy or conditions are ideal - but the measurable outcomes and stated philosophy reflect genuine investment in approaches that go beyond punishment.

How do I find someone at a Minnesota county jail?

Minnesota has 87 counties, each operating its own jail for pretrial detainees and sentences under one year. If your person was recently arrested, they are most likely in the county jail of the county where the arrest occurred. Contact the county sheriff's office directly - most Minnesota county sheriff offices have online inmate roster tools and will confirm custody status by phone. The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us covers only sentenced DOC inmates - it will not show county jail detainees. Hennepin County in Minneapolis and Ramsey County in St. Paul are the largest county jail systems. If you're not sure which county the arrest occurred in, Minnesota Court Records Online at courts.mn.gov can help identify the jurisdiction.

What is MCF Stillwater known for?

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater in Bayport opened in 1914 and is one of the oldest operating state prisons in the country, with a significant place in Minnesota correctional history. MCF Stillwater runs several notable programs: the Prison Dog Initiative (PDIO), where inmates train service dogs, has received national recognition and provides meaningful skill development and purpose for participants. The Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, hosted at Stillwater in partnership with the Loft Literary Center, is one of the most respected prison creative writing programs in the United States - producing published authors and award-winning work by people serving sentences there. Stillwater is close security - not maximum - and is located in Bayport about 20 miles east of St. Paul.

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