It is important for people to build support networks while incarcerated to strengthen their chances for success after release. Research conducted by the Minnesota Department of Corrections has shown that positive interactions with friends and family can lower recidivism.
Due to an increase in dangerous contraband coming into Minnesota Correctional Facilities through the mail, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is implementing a new mail delivery procedure to prioritize the security and well-being of everyone in our correctional facilities.
New Mail System: Effective November 1, 2024, the DOC will launch a system-wide mail management system through TextBehind®, a mail scanning and printing service used increasingly by state correctional systems and jails across the U.S.
Learn more about TextBehind® at the following website: https://textbehind.com/
Every mail envelope sent to an incarcerated person must contain the following information:
First Name / Last name, and OID
MCF-facility name, Minnesota (do not abbreviate Minnesota)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Unacceptable mail: TextBehind does not accept legal mail, money orders, personal checks, gift cards or cash in the mail, and these items will be returned to the sender. Information on a new legal mail process will be available soon. Until that time, please refer to instructions for Special/Legal Mail below.
Magazine subscriptions and catalogues should be sent directly to facilities.
Books must be purchased from approved vendors and shipped directly from the publisher directly to the facility. Books should be sent to the facility address and not the TextBehind address.
As of November 25, 2024, only the following book vendors are approved:
Books ordered from unapproved vendors will be returned or disposed of according to DOC policy.
Please see the following memo for more information—Memo.
Consulte el siguiente memorando para obtener más información—Memo.
Send books to:
Name and OID# (Identification Number)
MCF- (facility name where incarcerated person is housed)
Facility Address
Attorney-Client Privileged Mail Process:
Due to ongoing safety and security concerns around sender verification and processing of privileged mail from attorneys to incarcerated clients, the Minnesota Department of Corrections instituted a new process for this type of mail being sent into correctional facilities. This new system is called “TextBehind® DOCS.”
The system requires attorneys to register with the TextBehind DOCS website, https://textbehind.com/docs. Attorneys must print a QR code for each piece of mail they send to clients in correctional facilities.
The mailing address remains the same:
Name and OID# (Identification Number)
MCF- (facility name where incarcerated person is housed)
Facility Address
Attorney-client privileged mail sent to Minnesota DOC facilities without a verified QR code from TextBehind DOCS will be returned to sender.
Learn more here.
Un-allowed Mail: For safety and security purposes, the content of mail is regulated. Mail is denied that involves criminal activity; is identified as security threat group related; requests gifts or money from unrelated individuals, contain photos of staff, is coded material, contains unsanitary items such as hair, saliva, body secretions; certain sexually explicit situations including sexual intercourse, bodily excretory functions, sadism or bondage; personal photos displaying nudity by definition; and material advocating inferiority of an ethnic, racial or religious group.
Correspondence Review Authority: Each facility has a Correspondence Review Authority to review denied mail. Incarcerated individuals may appeal their denied mail by writing to the mailroom supervisor within ten working days of receipt of the Notice of Non-Delivery of Mail/Package and may submit one subsequent appeal to the facility’s Correspondence Review Authority within ten working days of the receipt of the mailroom supervisor’s decision.
Forwarding Mail: First class mail and subscriptions will be forwarded for 60 days. After 60 days, or if a forwarding address is unavailable, the item will be returned to the sender.
The free email pilot program has ended.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections has an online email system to help family and friends communicate with their loved one. The email system uses JPay. To send an email to an incarcerated person, please visit JPay to create an account and send letters electronically.
Before you can send an email, you will need their ID number.
Enter an inmate ID to get started |
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Send electronic messages | ||
More Information www.JPay.com I-800-574-5729 |
Incarcerated people do not need money for their day-to-day needs while incarcerated. Each facility provides all of the essential food, clothing and medical care necessary. However, there may be some personal care items and toiletries they may wish to purchase on his or her own. Additionally, they can buy snacks and items such as TV's, radios and hot pots at the facility canteen.
Incarcerated people are not allowed to receive money from another incarcerated individual/resident; or non-incarcerated people/residents still on paper supervision; or patients in other secure treatment facilities in Minnesota. Funds sent in violation of DOC policy will be placed in the incarcerated individual's HOLD account until his/her release. Funds placed in HOLD are subject to deductions.
A cost of confinement surcharge and, if applicable, a restitution surcharge will be deducted from funds received.
Search DOC Policy 300.100 for more information.
Enter incarcerated person's ID to get started |
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CHECK OUR LOW RATES | ||||
Deposit Amount |
Online |
Phone |
Cash/Walk-In |
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$0.01- $20.00 |
$3.95 |
$4.95 |
$6.95 |
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$20.01- $100.00 |
$6.95 |
$7.95 |
$6.95 |
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$100.01- $200.00 |
$8.95 |
$9.95 |
$6.95 |
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$200.01- $300.00 |
$10.95 |
$11.95 |
$6.95 |
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$300.01- $999.99 |
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$6.95 |
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Funds are typically posted to the account the following business day during normal business hours (subject to depositor verification). Funds received by JPay with incomplete sender information will be held by JPay until claimed by the sender or escheated to the applicable state. | ||||
More information www.JPay.com I 800.574.5729 | ||||
All other payments, including government and business checks, tribal distributions, vendor refunds and payments enclosed with legal and special mail must be addressed to the incarcerated person's facility address. NO money orders or cashier's checks will be accepted at the facility address.
DOC staff cannot provide information to friends and family regarding an incarcerated person's financial transactions.
Videograms are 30-second videos that you can record on your computer or smart phone and send to an incarcerated person. The goal of offering this service is to help people maintain positive community ties with friends and family. Visit www.jpay.com for more information on how you can send videograms.
Videograms are reviewed by JPay employees to ensure they meet MN DOC criteria before they are delivered to the incarcerated person. Click here to view the videogram rules. If your videogram is rejected, you will not receive a refund.