Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/moose Lake – Overview and Information
Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/Moose Lake (MCF-WR/ML) is located in city of Moose Lake, MN , and is the largest prison in the state. It is designed to house minimum to maximum security inmates and currently holds approximately 1,500 prisoners.
The prison is divided into three distinct components: the inner prison where the general population is located, the perimeter where minimum security inmates live in dormitories, and the specialized housing units which house inmates needing specialized services such as medical care and mental health treatment.
The inner prison consists of five housing units: four minimum security units and one maximum security unit. General population inmates are separated by sex, age, and type of crime. In addition to the general population, there are several segregated units including disciplinary segregation, protective custody, special management, and pre-trial detention.
The external security of the prison is maintained by full perimeter fences and state-of-the-art surveillance. All activities inside the facility are monitored by correctional officers in addition to camera surveillance.
Work programs are an important part of the educational and rehabilitation process at MCF-WR/ML. Inmate work programs can include manufacturing furniture and other items for state and government agencies, operating the laundry facilities, and cooking food for the prison mess halls.
The education programs are offered at the Miller Academic Center and can include GED and vocational/technical programs, as well as college classes provided by the University of Minnesota. Inmates also have access to mental health and substance abuse treatments.
The overall goal of the Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/Moose Lake is to reduce recidivism, meaning that the inmates are less likely to return to prison after their release. This is done by providing educational programming, offering job skills training and counseling, and giving inmates access to the necessary resources to become productive members of society.
Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/moose Lake – Classes, Services, and Programs
Minnesota Correctional Facility-Willow River/Moose Lake is a prison in the state of Minnesota that serves the counties of Pine, St. Louis, Koochiching, Carlton, and Aitkin. It has been in operation since 1972, and currently houses more than 1300 adult male inmates. The prison is divided into two facilities—Willow River and Moose Lake—each of which has its own unique programs, services, and classes.
Visitor Services – Visitation at Willow River/Moose Lake is allowed in the visitor’s center and certain areas of the prison grounds. Visitors must be pre-approved for approval to visit inmates, and must comply with the prison’s visitation policies. Visitor passes are also available for special occasions.
Classes & Programs – Various classes and programs are provided to inmates both in the general population and for those in specialized units such as the Women’s Unit, the Issues Adjustment Unit, and the Mentally Ill Unit. Programs include educational classes, spiritual programming, and leisure activities such as crafts and sports. In addition, the prison houses a Corrections Library where inmates can utilize the library’s collection of books, magazines, audio and video tapes, and computers.
Services for Inmates – The prison offers a variety of services for inmates, including counseling, medical and dental care, substance abuse treatment, re-entry services, and job search assistance. Additionally, the prison has a single cell program, which allows inmates to receive one-on-one counseling and have regular, face-to-face contact with staff members.
These are just some of the classes, services, and programs available to inmates of the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Willow River/Moose Lake. It is important that inmates have access to these, so that they can transition out of prison and reintegrate into society. With the help of these programs, inmates are able to become productive members of their communities.
Inmate visiting application in Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/moose Lake
In Minnesota, visitors of inmates in the Willow River/Moose Lake Correctional Facility must complete an Inmate Visiting Application (IVA) to gain approval before being allowed to visit. This application is available for download on the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) website.
The IVA includes essential information needed to process a visitor’s request to visit an inmate. A scanning barcode is located next to each field for the DOC to process the application more quickly.
To start the application, visitors should review and carefully answer all applicable questions in the IVA. Personal information including the visitor’s name, home address, and social security number will be needed to complete the application. Visitors should also include best times for visitation as well as the contact information for those who have known the inmate for more than two years, such as family or friends.
All visitors must meet Minnesota DOC regulations for visitors, including age, clothing, and any items that are brought into the facility. Additionally, the application must include a signed authorization from the inmate.
After the application has been completed, each visitor must appear in person at the visitation processing office to provide picture identification and additional proof of identification. All adults (18 or older) must present a valid U.S. government-issued ID card or driver’s license; if the visitor cannot present these documents, a court order of identification with their picture and date of birth must be provided. Finally, visitors must submit a fingerprint in the form of a digital scan or ink print for a background check.
Visitors to the Willow River/Moose Lake Correctional Facility must follow these visiting procedures in order to be approved for visitation. Only by completing all the necessary steps in the process can a visitor hope to gain approval to visit an inmate.
Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/moose Lake: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q1: What is the address of the Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/Moose Lake?
A1: The address of the Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River/Moose Lake is 945, 12th Avenue SW, Moose Lake, MN 55767.
Q2: What types of services does the facility provide?
A2: The facility provides correctional services to secure, minimum-security and work release inmates. It facilitates programming designed to reduce recidivism through focusing on life skills development, cognitive behavioral interventions, education, vocational training, work programs, and chemical dependency treatment.
Q3: What are the visiting hours?
A3: Visiting hours are Sunday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each visitor must register at the front desk before entering the facility and present a valid photo ID.
Q4: Are there any restrictions for visitors?
A4: Visitors must be 18 or older, or a minor in the company of an adult. Visits are limited to two hours, visitors must adhere to dress codes, may not bring any contraband and must pass through a metal detector. Any visitor found in possession of illegal items or exhibiting inappropriate behavior will be immediately removed.
Q5: What is the inmate mailing address?
A5: Inmates can be contacted through the following address: Inmate Name, Inmate Number, MCF Willow River/Moose Lake, P.O. Box 340, Moose Lake, MN 55767.
