Sending Mail to Inmates in Minnesota
Inmates in Minnesota can send and receive correspondence through the mail. All mail is opened and reviewed with the exception of legal mail which cannot be read, but may still be opened and inspected in the presence of the inmate.
You can send your inmate letters, greeting cards and post cards that do not contain electronics, and photos. Inmate's are allowed a maximum of twenty photos per envelope, Polaroid photos are not allowed as they pose a security risk when the backing is present. Photos must not contain nudity or contain anything that may pose a threat to the safety or security of the institution. Never send mail that contains perfume, hair, bodily fluids, lipstick, glue, stickers, paper clips, staples etc.
All mail you send to an inmate must have the OID (Offender Identification) number and full name present. For instance, when sending mail to an inmate you should format it in the following manner:
Inmate Name, OID Number
Facility Name
PO Box or Street address
City, State, Zip Code
If you do not know the inmate's OID number you can look it up by doing an inmate search.
Inmates can also receive electronic messages called 'O-mail' sent through corrlinks.com. The cost to send one message is thirty cents. Inmates do not have access to the internet, the messages are printed at the facilities mail room and delivered like regular mail.
How to Send Books and Magazines to Minnesota Inmates
Offenders in Minnesota are also allowed to receive books and magazines as long as they come directly from a publisher like Amazon.com. All books must be paperback and must come new, third party sellers are not permitted. You can also send magazine and newspaper subscriptions through Amazon.com. Be sure to include the inmates name and OID number in the shipping address, and ship to the inmate mailing address. Publications may not contain nudity, describe or depict how to manufacture drugs/alcohol, or explain how to make weapons. Any publications with maps, or that contain hate speech, advocate violence etc. may pose a threat to the security of the institution and will be rejected. If you want to learn more about sending these items to an inmate read about it here.
Sending Money to Inmates in Minnesota
Inmates are allowed to receive funds from friends and family members that can be deposited into their commissary accounts. A portion of the funds that are received may be deducted and placed towards paying an inmates outstanding owed balances, including restitution, surcharges, and cost of confinement. Offenders can use money in their accounts to purchase items from the commissary, including hygiene items, toiletries, snacks, and electronics like televisions, radios and hot pots.
You can send funds to an inmate by:
- Walk In
- Internet
- Phone
Before you can send the funds you will need to know the following information:
- The Inmates Name
- The Offenders Identification Number (OID)
- The current location of the inmate
Deposit by Walk In
Friends and family members can deposit money by visiting any MoneyGram location, this includes any CVS or Walmart. You will need to use the receive code 1279. A fee of $6.95 is associated with sending funds this way, and you can use cash or debit card.
Deposit by Internet
You can also send money to an inmate in Minnesota online through JPAY.com using a debit or credit card. The fee assessed starts at $3.95 and may be more depend on the amount you are sending.
Deposit Funds Over the Phone
You can deposit funds to an inmate's account over the phone by calling JPAY at 1-800-574-5729. You can call 24 hours a day seven days a week and use a debit or credit card to fund the transaction. The fee assessed starts at $4.95 and may be more depending on the amount you are sending.
Deposit Funds Through the Mail
The lowest fee associated with sending funds to an inmate but often slowest method, is sending a money order through the mail. You can send funds through the mail by using a United States Postal Money Order, made payable to 'JPAY'. Include the inmate's name and OID number in the memo field. You will also need to include a JPAY Minnesota deposit slip with your money order.
Mail both the money order and the deposit slip to:
JPAY
PO Box 246450
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
For more information on sending funds to an inmate, read our guide here.
Minnesota Inmate Phone Calls
Offenders are allowed to make outgoing collect calls and prepaid calls only. At no time can you initiate the phone call to your inmate. If an emergency exists, such as the death of an immediate family member, you can call the facility with the information and a staff member will call the hospital or funeral home to verify the situation, then may forward the message to the inmate who may be allowed to make a special phone call. All calls may be recorded and monitored, three way calling and call forwarding is prohibited.
You may be able to drastically reduce your inmate phone bill by setting up your account with a number local to the facility. Learn more about how you can save money on your inmate phone calls.