Minnesota's grievance process begins before the grievance form. Before you can file a formal grievance, you must work through the kite system -- sending written communications to the staff responsible for the issue, one person at a time, following the facility's chain of command. The kite system is not optional. If you skip it, the grievance will be returned to you.
Once you have kited the chain of command and waited the required time, you may file a formal facility grievance. If you are still unsatisfied, you may file a grievance appeal to central office. The appeal decision is final.
Minnesota also has specialized grievance authorities depending on your issue: the warden handles general conditions, but medical and nursing complaints go to the Director and Associate Directors of Nursing, behavioral health complaints go to the Associate Directors of Behavioral Health, case management complaints go to the Associate Director of Case Management, and education complaints go to the Director of Secondary or Post-Secondary Education. Filing with the wrong authority can delay your grievance.
The governing document is Minnesota DOC Policy 303.100, Grievance Procedure, effective June 4, 2024.
Why the Process Matters: The PLRA
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 42 U.S.C. section 1997e(a), requires you to exhaust all available administrative remedies before a federal court will hear a lawsuit about prison conditions. In Minnesota, that means completing both the facility grievance and the grievance appeal through the department grievance appeal authority's final decision. Stopping after the facility grievance without filing the appeal does not exhaust your remedies.
The Supreme Court in Woodford v. Ngo (2006) held that proper exhaustion requires following all procedural rules. Miss the 30-calendar-day filing window, skip the kite requirement, or miss the 21-calendar-day appeal window, and your case may be dismissed in federal court.
All deadlines in Minnesota's grievance process are in calendar days.
What You Can Grieve
The grievance process is available to all incarcerated people in Minnesota DOC adult facilities. It covers issues related to your own confinement, application of policy, and your own health, safety, and wellbeing -- for which there is no separate review or appeal procedure.
What cannot be grieved under Policy 303.100 (separate processes exist for all of these):
- Property and assigned-duty injury claims (Policy 303.090)
- Classification decisions (Policy 202.100)
- Offender assignment and compensation (Division Directive 204.010)
- Discipline (Policy 303.010), except for the procedure in Offender Discipline Regulation 510 (Mandated Treatment Failure/Refusal)
- Hearings for adult offenders (Policy 106.114)
- Informal sanctions (Policy 303.015)
- Mail appeals for unallowable mail and centralized magazine review (Policy 302.020, Procedures K and N)
- Kiosk services (Division Directive 302.022)
- Visiting (Policy 302.100)
- Substance use disorder assessment, treatment directives, and programming (Policy 500.308)
- Sex offender and chemical dependency treatment directives (Division Directive 203.013)
- Challenge Incarceration Program Phase I (Policy 204.060)
- Restrictive Housing Step-Down Management Program (Policy 301.088)
- Administrative segregation (Policy 301.085)
- Sexual abuse and harassment -- reporting and response (Policy 202.057)
- Conditional medical release (Policy 203.200)
- Secondary education modification requests (Policy 204.035)
- Modifications for incarcerated persons with disabilities (Policy 203.250)
- Issues outside the scope of Minnesota DOC's authority (e.g., governed by statute or state/federal regulation, such as decisions of the CDC or Minnesota Department of Health)
Additional restrictions:
- Proposed resolutions may NOT include monetary compensation or policy changes
- Outcomes of personnel matters will not be shared (data practices regulations)
- The Minnesota Screening Tool Assessing Recidivism Risk (MnSTARR and MnSTARR 2.0) may not be grieved
Step 0: Informal Resolution -- The Kite System (Required)
Before filing any formal grievance, you must attempt to resolve the issue informally through the kite system.
How it works: Send a kite to the staff person responsible for the program, service, or condition at issue, as indicated on your Facility Chain of Command. Each facility posts the Chain of Command for each type of issue. The chain of command for any particular issue may not exceed three levels.
Wait 7 days: Staff must respond to kites within seven calendar days. If you have not received a response by the end of the seventh day, you may send a kite to the next person on the chain of command, noting that a response was not received within seven days.
If you have concerns about a specific staff person and can show valid reasons why you cannot send a kite directly to that person, you may send a kite directly to the next person in the chain of command.
If you have a staff code of conduct issue: A separate process applies (see Special Circumstances section).
After completing the chain of command: If the issue is not resolved, you may file a formal facility grievance. You must attach all kites and responses when you file.
Filing the Facility Grievance
Filing deadline: Within **30 calendar days** of when the issue most recently occurred. You may NOT file sooner than **7 calendar days** after you sent a kite trying to resolve the issue -- unless you have already received a response from the last staff person on the facility chain of command, in which case you may file immediately.
Forms: Use the Facility Grievance form (303.100B). Forms are available in housing units or through unit staff, caseworker, or the facility library.
What the grievance must include:
Section 1: Describe a single issue, all parties involved, and the supporting facts. One issue per grievance.
Section 2: Propose specific resolutions or remedies. No more than two suggested remedies per issue. Remedies may include administrative actions, correction of department records, or other appropriate resolutions such as assurances of corrective action. Remedies may NOT include monetary compensation or policy changes.
Section 3: List the chain of command followed, the date each kite was sent, the date a response was received, and mark whether the kite is attached.
Attach all kites following the chain of command and responses, and any other relevant documents.
Who to submit to: Submit to the facility grievance coordinator. You may submit in a sealed envelope addressed to the facility grievance coordinator and marked "Special Mail." Envelopes are purchased at your own cost.
Safety exception: If you have received threats to your physical safety and can establish that you would be in danger if your complaint were known at the facility, you may submit your facility grievance directly to the department grievance appeal authority at central office in a sealed envelope marked "Special Mail."
Returns: A grievance will be returned if it contains threats or inappropriate language, raises a previously resolved issue, contains more than one issue, is vague or frivolous, raises a non-grievable issue, lacks a requested resolution, is filed past the 30-day deadline, or fails to follow form instructions. The grievance coordinator must consult with the grievance authority before rejecting a grievance.
Grievance authority response deadline: Within **21 calendar days** of the date the facility grievance was logged into the database. If an extension is needed, you will be notified and the deadline extends to **42 calendar days**.
If you are not notified of the decision within 21 calendar days (or 42 if you received notice of an extension): You may consider the facility grievance dismissed and file a grievance appeal immediately.
No response = dismissed for appeal purposes: This is Minnesota's constructive dismissal rule. Use it to move forward if the facility fails to respond in time.
Specialized Grievance Authorities
Minnesota routes grievances to different authorities depending on the issue:
General conditions (most grievances): Warden or designated Associate Warden.
Medical, dental, or nursing care: Director and Associate Directors of Nursing. For clinical matters, medication prescribing, or treatment decisions, licensed practitioners must be consulted.
Behavioral health care: Associate Directors of Behavioral Health Services (same clinical consultation requirement).
Case management and other programming (health, recovery, and programming unit): Associate Director(s) of Case Management and Programming.
Secondary education: Director of Secondary Education.
Post-secondary (higher) education: Director of Post-Secondary Education.
Grievances regarding a warden: The assistant commissioner of facilities for that particular facility is designated as the grievance authority.
Filing the Grievance Appeal
The final step in the grievance process is the grievance appeal, submitted to the department grievance appeal authority at central office.
Filing deadline: Within **21 calendar days** of the date the facility grievance authority signed the response. You must submit by U.S. mail to be received within 21 calendar days. You may submit in a sealed envelope marked "Special Mail."
What the grievance appeal must include:
- A completed grievance appeal form (303.100C)
- The signed facility grievance determination
- A list of all documents submitted with the initial grievance (the actual documents are not required)
Department grievance appeal authorities (by issue):
- General facility issues: Assistant Commissioner of Facilities for the relevant facility
- Medical, dental, nursing, case management, and behavioral health: Assistant Commissioner of Health, Recovery, and Programming
- Grievances about a warden: Deputy Commissioner of Client Services and Supports
- Education (except secondary-education modification requests): Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Teaching and Learning
Appeal response deadline: Within **21 calendar days** of the date the appeal was logged into the grievance appeal database. If a 21-day extension is needed, you will be notified within the first 21 calendar days and the deadline extends to **42 calendar days**.
If you do not receive a decision within 21 calendar days (or 42 if notified of extension): You may consider the original grievance decision final and your administrative remedies exhausted. You may then proceed to federal court.
Grievance appeal determinations are final. No further level of review is permitted.
Deadlines at a Glance
All deadlines in calendar days.
Kite response from staff: 7 calendar days (if no response, kite next person on chain of command)
Facility grievance filing: within 30 calendar days of incident (not sooner than 7 days after kite sent)
Facility grievance response: within 21 calendar days of logging (extendable to 42 with notice)
No response by 21 days (or 42): treat as dismissed, file appeal immediately
Grievance appeal filing: within 21 calendar days of date facility authority signed response; must be RECEIVED by central office within 21 days (U.S. mail)
Grievance appeal response: within 21 calendar days of logging (extendable to 42 with notice)
No response by 21 days (or 42): treat as final, administrative remedies exhausted
Emergency grievance response: within 5 calendar days; resolutions are FINAL and not appealable
What to Put in Your Grievance
Keep it focused. One issue per grievance. Describe the facts precisely: who, what, when, where. Propose no more than two specific remedies. Attach every kite and response from your chain of command effort. Include all dates kites were sent and responses received in Section 3.
Keep copies. The facility grievance coordinator returns your original documents after logging. Keep copies of everything before submitting -- you will need the signed facility grievance determination to file your appeal.
The signed facility grievance determination is your appeal currency. Without the signed response, your appeal cannot be accepted. If the facility has not responded within 21 days, use the constructive dismissal rule and document the non-response in your appeal.
Families: No one may submit a grievance or grievance appeal on behalf of an incarcerated person. However, an incarcerated person may get assistance from another incarcerated person or facility staff in preparing the grievance. After exhaustion, families may contact the Minnesota Disability Law Center, the ACLU of Minnesota, or the Minnesota Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities for issues involving those areas.
Emergency Grievances
If your issue creates a substantial risk of physical injury or other serious irreparable harm to yourself or others, you may file an emergency grievance.
First step: Contact any staff member verbally and directly, indicating you have an emergency. Staff must determine if compelling circumstances exist. If an emergency is established, the watch commander is notified and steps are taken to resolve the situation.
If staff determine no emergency exists: You may file an emergency grievance. The chain of command requirements are waived. Submit in a sealed envelope to the facility grievance coordinator marked "Special Mail."
The facility grievance coordinator forwards the emergency grievance to the warden or designee to determine if it is truly an emergency. If confirmed: reviewed in detail by staff capable of correcting the situation, with response within **5 calendar days**.
If deemed non-emergency: Returned to you; you may proceed through the normal chain of command and grievance process.
Important: Emergency healthcare issues (medical, dental, mental health emergencies) are addressed through Policy 500.012, "Offender Emergency Healthcare" -- do NOT use the grievance process for emergency healthcare.
Emergency grievance resolutions are final and may not be appealed.
Federal Prisons in Minnesota
Minnesota has three BOP facilities, all under the **North Central Regional Office**:
**FCI Sandstone** (Sandstone, Pine County) -- low-security for male inmates, approximately 1,062-1,337 males. Located approximately 100 miles northeast of Minneapolis and 70 miles southwest of Duluth. Opened 1939; one of the longest-operating federal prisons in the country. Includes RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program). Mailing address: FCI Sandstone, P.O. Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072.
**FCI Waseca** (Waseca, Minnesota) -- low-security for female inmates, approximately 598 females.
**FPC Duluth** (Federal Prison Camp, Saint Louis County) -- minimum-security federal prison camp, adjacent to the former Duluth Air Force Base. The BOP Director visited FCI Sandstone and FPC Duluth in July 2025, confirming both are operational.
If you are at any of these BOP facilities, the Minnesota DOC process described in this article does not apply to you. Federal inmates use the BOP Administrative Remedy Program running BP-8 through BP-11 under 28 CFR Part 542. See the InmateAid federal grievance article for the complete BOP process.
After Exhaustion: Where to Go Next
Once the department grievance appeal authority issues a final decision (or once the 21-day or 42-day deadline passes without a response), your administrative remedies are exhausted and you may proceed to federal court for conditions of confinement claims.
Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC): mylegalaid.org; 1-800-292-4150. Minnesota's federally designated Protection and Advocacy organization for people with disabilities, regardless of age or income. Provides free civil legal assistance on disability-related legal issues statewide. Has federal authority to monitor and investigate facilities serving people with disabilities. Contact: mndlc@mylegalaid.org. Relevant for disability-related grievances, ADA accommodation denials, and mental health care complaints.
ACLU of Minnesota: aclu-mn.org. Works on civil rights and prisoners' rights in Minnesota.
Minnesota Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities: An independent state ombudsman who investigates complaints from people in facilities serving those with mental health or developmental disabilities. May be contacted after internal remedies are exhausted.
County Jails in Minnesota
Minnesota counties operate their own jails, separate from the Minnesota DOC. Policy 303.100 applies to Minnesota DOC adult facilities only. County jails must have their own grievance procedures, which vary by county. The PLRA requires you to exhaust whatever process exists at your specific county jail before filing in federal court. Ask for your county jail's written grievance policy.
Special Circumstances
Staff code of conduct issues: Grievances about violations of Policy 103.220, "Personal Code of Conduct of Employees," follow a separate track. Encouraged to try to resolve directly with the staff member first. Staff conduct issue grievances must identify the specific sections of Policy 103.220 that were violated and provide specific information (who, what, where, when, how). May be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to the facility grievance coordinator and marked "Special Mail."
Grievance management: If you file more than four grievances in a 30-day period, or abuse the grievance process by filing repetitive, vague, frivolous, or harassing grievances, you may be placed on grievance management for an initial period of not more than 90 calendar days. Under grievance management, you may only submit emergency grievances (subject to approval by the warden or assistant commissioner). A non-emergency submitted while on grievance management extends the management period by 30 days for each such submission. You will be notified in writing of any grievance management placement.
Transparency: Minnesota DOC publishes grievance and appeal data publicly on a dashboard at mn.gov/doc/transparency-center/dashboards, updated regularly.
Release during process: If you are released while a grievance or appeal is pending, the facility grievance coordinator or appeal authority's designated staff must send the response to your last known address.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the kite system before filing a grievance?
Yes. The kite system is the mandatory first step. You must send kites to the staff responsible for the issue, following the Facility Chain of Command (no more than three levels). You must wait at least seven calendar days after sending a kite before filing the formal grievance -- unless you have already received a final response from the last person on the chain of command.
What is the 30-day filing deadline and when does it start?
The 30-calendar-day window runs from when the issue most recently occurred. If the issue is ongoing, the window runs from the most recent occurrence. You must file within 30 calendar days, but not sooner than 7 calendar days after you sent your kite. The grievance authority may waive a procedural filing requirement in good faith if the interest in resolving a serious issue outweighs strict procedural compliance.
What happens if the facility doesn't respond to my grievance in 21 days?
You may consider the facility grievance dismissed and file your grievance appeal immediately. You do not need to wait for a response that is not coming. Document the non-response in your appeal, noting the date the grievance was logged and the fact that no response was received.
What must I include with my grievance appeal?
Three things: (1) the completed grievance appeal form (303.100C); (2) the signed facility grievance determination; and (3) a list of all documents submitted with the initial grievance. The actual documents are not required at the appeal level. If the facility never responded, use the constructive dismissal rule and document the non-response.
Can my family file a grievance on my behalf?
No. No one may submit a facility grievance or grievance appeal on behalf of an incarcerated person. You may get help from another incarcerated person or staff in preparing the form, but you must submit it yourself.
How many grievances can I file per month?
No more than four in a 30-calendar-day period. Filing more than four is deemed excessive and can result in placement on grievance management, which restricts your ability to file further grievances (emergency grievances only, subject to approval) for an initial period of up to 90 calendar days. --- INTERNAL LINKS TO PLACE: 1. Minnesota inmate search (InmateAid Minnesota page) 2. Family rights and advocacy in Minnesota (FRA series Minnesota article) 3. How the Minnesota prison disciplinary process works (if spoke exists) 4. How Prison Works hub 5. Staying Connected hub --- SPEC NOTE / SOURCING (strip before publish): - Voice: formerly incarcerated narrator written TO the incarcerated person; family guidance woven in. No em dashes. No smart quotes. No double hyphens. Plain text. - Meta title char count: 58 (under 60). Meta description char count: 159 (in 150-160 range). All 7 FAQ headings under 60 chars, verified. - Defining hooks for Minnesota: (1) KITE SYSTEM MANDATORY FIRST -- must send kites through facility chain of command (max 3 levels), wait 7 CD for response, work up the chain before grievance is allowed; (2) CANNOT FILE SOONER THAN 7 DAYS after kite sent (unless final response received); (3) SPECIALIZED GRIEVANCE AUTHORITIES -- warden (general), Director/Associate Directors of Nursing (medical/dental/nursing), Associate Directors of Behavioral Health (behavioral health), Associate Director(s) of Case Management (case management/programming), Director of Secondary or Post-Secondary Education (education); different central office appeal authorities match each track; (4) 21-CD constructive dismissal rule -- no response = treat as dismissed, file appeal immediately; (5) APPEAL MUST BE RECEIVED within 21 days -- U.S. mail; not postmarked, RECEIVED; (6) SIGNED FACILITY GRIEVANCE DETERMINATION required for appeal -- cannot appeal without it; (7) SAFETY VALVE: if threatened, file directly to department grievance appeal authority at central office; (8) EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS ARE FINAL -- cannot be appealed; emergency healthcare uses Policy 500.012 not grievance; (9) STAFF CODE OF CONDUCT: separate submission track under Policy 103.220; must identify specific sections violated; (10) GRIEVANCE MANAGEMENT: max 4 per 30 days; 90-day initial period; 30-day extension per non-emergency submitted while on management; (11) TRANSPARENCY DASHBOARD: Minnesota DOC publishes grievance data publicly; (12) THREE BOP FACILITIES: FCI Sandstone (low-security male), FCI Waseca (low-security female), FPC Duluth (minimum camp); all North Central Regional Office; BOP Director visited Sandstone and Duluth July 2025; (13) NO MONETARY COMPENSATION and NO POLICY CHANGES as remedies; max 2 remedies per grievance; (14) VOLATILE/RECHECK note: the VOLATILE flag in prior sessions was about Books/Magazines series (HRDC/ACLU litigation); this grievance policy 6/4/24 is current and not affected by that litigation. - SOURCES: Policy 303.100, Grievance Procedure (effective June 4, 2024; policy.doc.mn.gov/DOCPolicy/PolicyDoc?name=303.100.pdf; full text fetched): Definitions (behavioral health services grievance authority; case management grievance authority; department grievance appeal authority = assistant commissioner of facilities for relevant facility, or AC of health/recovery/programming, or deputy AC of teaching and learning; education grievance authority = director secondary or post-secondary; emergency grievance = substantial risk physical injury or other serious irreparable harm; executive level staff = warden, associate warden, or captain; facility chain of command = max 3 levels; facility grievance authority = warden or associate warden; facility grievance coordinator; grievance; health service grievance authority = director and associate directors of nursing; kite; staff code of conduct issue = violation of Policy 103.220); General Requirements (A: legible, respectful language; forms from housing units/staff/caseworker/library; front page only; Section 1 single issue; Section 2 max 2 remedies no monetary compensation no policy changes; Section 3 chain of command log; attach kites and responses); Returns criteria (B: 11 listed grounds including threats, duplicates, multiple issues, vague/frivolous, non-grievable, no resolution, past 30 days, past 21 days appeal, issue mismatch, didn't follow instructions, attempting to grieve prior grievance handling); Assistance (C: may get help; no one may submit on behalf of another); Informal Resolution (D: kite system required; 7 CD staff response; if no response by end of day 7 = kite next on chain; chain max 3 levels; valid reasons exception for certain staff); Staff Code of Conduct (E: encouraged direct resolution; if not possible = staff conduct grievance; must identify Policy 103.220 violations; specific info required; sealed envelope "Special Mail"); Facility Grievances (F: within 30 CD of most recent occurrence; not sooner than 7 CD after kite sent; waiver possible for good faith mistake; safety exception: direct to department grievance appeal authority at central office if safety risk; coordinator date stamps; if incomplete = returned; if potentially non-compliant = consult grievance authority before rejecting; if complete and accepted = notify grievant 21 CD or 42 CD extension; enter COMS; enter summary log; return grievance and documents; retain copy; investigation by grievance authority or executive level staff; no staff involved in the grievance may investigate; grievance about warden = assistant commissioner of facilities as authority; deputy commissioner of client services and supports as appeal authority; responses must state decision and reasons; respond completely; accurate/factual; 21 CD to send or 42 CD with notice; if no response in 21 CD (or 42 CD) = treat as dismissed, may file appeal immediately; released grievants = send to last known address); Emergency (G: priority; incarcerated person must designate emergency on form; demonstrate substantial risk; normal chain of command waived; contact staff verbally first; if compelling circumstances = watch commander notified; if no emergency = may file emergency grievance; submit sealed "Special Mail"; coordinator forwards to warden/designee; if emergency = warden/designee reviews in detail; if non-emergency = returned, may use normal process; emergency healthcare = Policy 500.012 not grievance; response within 5 CD; resolutions FINAL not appealable); Grievance Appeals (H: final step; appeal authority for general = AC of facilities; for health/recovery/programming = AC of health/recovery/programming; for warden grievances = deputy commissioner client services and supports; for education = deputy AC teaching and learning; file within 21 CD of date authority signed response; U.S. mail RECEIVED within 21 CD; sealed "Special Mail"; must include completed appeal form + signed facility determination + list of documents (actual docs not required); may waive in good faith; accept: log into COMS/summary log; send notice of log date; forward to authority; authority reviews: consider extension if needed, notify within first 21 CD; review record; additional investigation; final decision dismiss/dismiss with modification/affirm/affirm with modification; send copy to grievant within 21 CD or 42 CD; if no decision within 21 CD (or 42 CD) = treat as final, administrative remedies exhausted; appeal determinations FINAL; released = send to last known address); Limitations (I: outside scope; 18 specific non-grievable policies listed; no monetary compensation; no policy changes; no MnSTARR; max 4 per 30 days; excessive = grievance management); Grievance Management (J: initial 90 CD period; grounds: excessive/repetitive/non-grievable/vague/frivolous/harassing/repeated return criteria; recommendation only by facility grievance authority; AC of facilities or deputy commissioner client services and supports decides; immediate written notice; on management = emergency grievances only, subject to pre-approval by warden/AC of facilities/deputy commissioner; non-emergency submitted while on management extends period 30 days each; reviewed by same authorities); Grievance Training (K: academy and orientation training; annual updates; COMS training; backup staff trained); Internal Controls (A-C: logged in COMS; retained per schedules); References (Minn. Stat. 241.01 and 243.56; 42 U.S.C. 1997e PLRA; multiple listed policies); Attachments (Facility Grievance 303.100B; Grievance Appeal 303.100C; Chain of Command template 303.100D; Grievance Return Cover Letter 303.100E; Grievance Management Placement Form 303.100F; Grievance Management Notification 303.100G); Wikipedia FCI Sandstone (Sandstone Pine County MN; low-security ~1,337 males; 100 miles NE of Minneapolis; North Central Regional Office); federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com (FCI Sandstone low-security ~1,062-1,337 males; FCI Waseca low-security ~598 females; FPC Duluth Saint Louis County minimum-security; all North Central Regional Office); bop.gov July 2025 news (Director Marshall visited FCI Sandstone and FPC Duluth July 9 2025; confirmed operational); mylegalaid.org (Minnesota Disability Law Center MDLC = MN P&A; Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; 1-800-292-4150; mndlc@mylegalaid.org; free civil legal assistance; federal P&A authority to monitor and investigate facilities); aclu-mn.org (ACLU of Minnesota); mn.gov/doc/transparency-center/dashboards (MN DOC public grievance/appeal dashboard); Woodford v. Ngo 548 U.S. 81 (2006). - VERIFY FLAGS for Poorwa: (1) Policy 303.100 effective June 4, 2024 -- confirm this is the current version from policy.doc.mn.gov. Full text was fetched; no further update verification needed unless Poorwa finds a newer version. (2) Confirm kite system requirement: 7 calendar days to receive response; may kite next level if no response by end of day 7 -- confirmed in §D.2. (3) Confirm grievance filing: within 30 CD of most recent occurrence; not sooner than 7 CD after kite sent -- confirmed in §F.2.a. (4) Confirm grievance response: 21 CD or 42 CD with extension -- confirmed in §F.3.c(3). (5) Confirm no response = treat as dismissed, file appeal -- confirmed in §F.4. (6) Confirm appeal must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) within 21 CD -- confirmed in §H.2.a. (7) Confirm appeal response: 21 CD or 42 CD with extension -- confirmed in §H.3.c(3). (8) Confirm no appeal response = treat as final/exhausted -- confirmed in §H.3.d. (9) Confirm signed facility grievance determination required for appeal -- confirmed in §H.2.b(2). (10) Confirm emergency response within 5 CD -- confirmed in §G.5. (11) Confirm emergency resolutions are FINAL and not appealable -- confirmed in §G.6. (12) Confirm staff code of conduct: sealed envelope "Special Mail" -- confirmed in §E.3. (13) Confirm max 4 grievances per 30 days -- confirmed in §I.6. (14) Confirm grievance management: 90-day initial period, 30-day extension for non-emergencies -- confirmed in §J.1 and §J.4.d. (15) Confirm FCI Sandstone, FCI Waseca, FPC Duluth all operational and North Central Regional Office -- confirmed. (16) Confirm Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC): mylegalaid.org; 1-800-292-4150; mndlc@mylegalaid.org -- confirmed. (17) Confirm ACLU of Minnesota: aclu-mn.org. (18) Confirm MN DOC transparency dashboard: mn.gov/doc/transparency-center/dashboards. No volatile phone rates. No crisis-line specifics. NOTE: Previous series notes flagged Minnesota as VOLATILE/RECHECK due to HRDC/ACLU litigation -- this was specific to the Books and Magazines series (library policy litigation), NOT the grievance procedure. Policy 303.100 at 6/4/24 is current and unaffected by that litigation flag.
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