Incarcerated people sometimes want to write letters of apology to the victims/survivors of their crimes. In an apology letter, an offender may acknowledge fault, the injury and pain caused to the victim or others, and responsibility for the crime and the harm caused. The letter will not offer excuses or request forgiveness or pardon.
By policy, the Department of Corrections (DOC) does not allow an incarcerated person to send an apology letter to a victim, either directly or through a third party. All approved apology letters are held by the Restorative Justice Program at the DOC and distributed only when and if the victim specifically decides to accept the correspondence.
Forms can be mailed to:
Minnesota Department of Corrections
Restorative Justice Program
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
St. Paul, MN 55108
Forms can be emailed to:
RestorativeJustice.DOC@state.mn.us
If you would like more information about the VOD process, please contact Restorative Justice Program staff at 651-361-7574 or RestorativeJustice.doc@state.mn.us