The Minnesota Department of Corrections operates nine adult correctional facilities plus several community supervision programs. Here is a complete guide for families on finding a loved one, setting up communication, and staying connected.
Finding Your Loved One: MNDOC Offender Search
Minnesota provides a free public offender search at mn.gov/doc — navigate to "Offender Locator." Search by name or DOC ID number. The search returns current facility, sentence information, and projected release date for people in state custody.
Newly sentenced individuals typically go to the Minnesota Correctional Facility–Stillwater or MCF–St. Cloud for intake assessment and classification before assignment to a permanent facility. Allow one to two weeks for the MNDOC system to reflect a new permanent placement.
Phone Calls: GTL / ConnectNetwork
Minnesota DOC uses GTL (Global Tel Link) / ConnectNetwork for inmate telephone services. To receive calls:
- Create a free account at ConnectNetwork.com
- Register the phone number where you want to receive calls
- Load funds into your AdvancePay account
- Make sure your number is on the inmate's approved call list (set through the facility)
Inmates call out — you cannot call in. Calls are monitored and recorded except attorney-client calls.
Sending Money: JPay
Minnesota DOC uses JPay for inmate trust account deposits. Go to JPay.com, search for the inmate under Minnesota DOC, and deposit by card. Fees apply. Money orders mailed to the facility are also accepted.
Visiting Minnesota State Prisons
Visits require advance registration. General requirements:
- Potential visitors must submit an application — the inmate initiates this with their counselor
- Background check required for visitors over 18
- Valid government-issued photo ID at every visit
- Dress code enforced — no clothing in inmate-uniform colors (Minnesota uses tan and navy), no camouflage, no revealing clothing
- Schedule visits in advance through the facility — hours vary by institution
Current visiting schedules are listed at mn.gov/doc under each facility page. Call ahead — visits can be suspended during lockdowns or operational reviews.
Minnesota's Nine State Correctional Facilities
- MCF–Stillwater — Bayport (close/maximum security, men)
- MCF–Oak Park Heights — Stillwater (maximum security, men — the state's highest-security facility)
- MCF–St. Cloud — St. Cloud (close security, men; reception function)
- MCF–Faribault — Faribault (medium security, men)
- MCF–Lino Lakes — Lino Lakes (medium security, men)
- MCF–Moose Lake — Moose Lake (medium security, men; sex offender treatment)
- MCF–Red Wing — Red Wing (juvenile, boys 14-21)
- MCF–Shakopee — Shakopee (all security levels, women)
- MCF–Willow River/Moose Lake — minimum security, men
The MRRA and What It Means for Release Timing
Under the new MRRA law (effective 2023, expanded September 2025), people in Minnesota state prison can earn release after serving 50 percent of their sentence by completing an Individualized Rehabilitation Plan. This changes the prior expectation that people serve two-thirds before release to probation. If your loved one is subject to the MRRA, ask their case manager about their IRP and eligibility timeline — this directly affects when they could be released.
MNDOC headquarters: 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55108. Phone: (651) 361-7200. Website: mn.gov/doc.
Further reading for families
For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.
Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.