After decades of accepting only paper visitor applications, the Minnesota Department of Corrections plans to switch to a new electronic visiting system at adult prisons on Monday.
"We have a lot of pretty antiquated processes in the Department of Corrections,” said Paul Schnell, Commissioner at the Department of Corrections. “We heard loud and clear from families (about) the challenges with providing information, sending it in, knowing the status, and communicating with our staff. That’s why we finally developed this.”
About 8,200 people are incarcerated at 11 prisons statewide.
Since December, the corrections department has been testing the new electronic system at Rush City and five other prisons. The feedback from the pilot program showed the system reduced application wait times and applicant postage costs.
“We heard from people that it was just a lot easier to complete. You knew that it was submitted versus paper copies and there was clearer communication between our staff and the applicants,” Schnell said.
Due to the positive responses during the program’s pilot phase, the electronic application system will be available in both English and Spanish at all adult correctional facilities in the state.
Beginning Aug. 11, the department will no longer accept paper applications for in-person visits to Minnesota prisons. For families without proper access to technology or who are unable to navigate the new system, staff assistance is available at (320) 358-0466.
"We recognize there will be people who will need accommodations,” Schnell said. “In certain circumstances, we would absolutely help somebody complete the application if they did not have the capability or capacity to do it.”
The corrections department plans to make same system available for juveniles inmates in Red Wing later this year.
