Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake
MCF- Willow River/Moose Lake is a two-site facility that features different custody levels. MCF-Moose Lake is a Level III medium-custody facility for male inmates located in Moose Lake, Minnesota. And, MCF-Willow River is a minimum-security boot camp for inmates who are part of the Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP) that is located in Willow River, Minnesota.
MCF-Willow River/Moose Lake, houses over 1,000 male inmates at the medium security prison in Moose Lake and another 180 minimum security offenders at the Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP) facility in Willow River. MCF-Moose Lake is the former Moose Lake Regional Treatment Center. Conversion to a correctional facility began in 1988.
CIP-Willow River is a minimum-security boot camp program mandated by the Minnesota Legislature in 1992 that allows non-violent offenders who qualify to earn early release. Phase 1 is a six-month, intensive program for up to 180 non-violent drug and property male offenders.
Programming components include education, critical thinking skills development, chemical dependency programming, and rigorous physical exercise. Phases 2 and 3, supervised release phases, are generally six months in duration and served in the community.
Prison Insights
Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake
Thank you for visiting us to better understand how inmates are treated while incarcerated at this institution. Please be sure to share this website with others so that we can spread the word and help to maintain rights for current and former inmates.
Please note that by checking the box below, you understand we will be contacting you via email to better understand how we can help you and where our data will be used.
After confirming by checking the box below and inputting your email address, please press "submit" and then click on "View Insights" for the area you'd like to reveal.
What Do Inmate Families Think?
What Do Former Inmates Think?
What Do Employees Think?
Visiting Hours and Rules
Visiting Hours at MCF - Moose Lake:
General population | |
Friday- Sunday | 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Registration desk will close daily at 11:45 a.m. and will reopen at 1 p.m. It closes for the day at 3:45 p.m.) |
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday | No Visiting |
Holidays (see below) | No Visiting |
Restrictive housing population |
Restrictive housing offenders may visit on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. via teleconference television, by appointment only. To make an appointment, you must call 218-485-5170 at least 24 hours in advance, Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a Sunday visit. |
Visiting Staff Contact: 218-485-5170
Challenge Incarceration Program (Willow River)
Hours of Visiting: For those at Willow River CIP, visiting hours are determined by squad and hat color. What days an inmate can have visitors is based on his squad. The time for visits is based on hat color. Please carefully check both the squad and hat color when planning a visit. Visiting is conducted on the holidays that fall on regularly scheduled CIP visiting days.
Visiting Days | |
Beginning the first full weekend (Saturday & Sunday) of the month: | |
1st & 3rd Saturday | Alpha, Echo & Lima Squads |
1st & 3rd Sunday | Bravo, Foxtrot & Sierra Squads |
2nd & 4th Saturday | Charlie, Hotel & Tango Squads |
2nd & 4th Sunday | Delta, India & Victor Squads |
Visiting Times | |
Visiting registration begins 15 minutes prior to scheduled visiting hours | |
Red Hat Offenders | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
Brown Hat Offenders | 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
Blue Hat Offenders | 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
Visiting Staff Contact: Phone: 218-372-3101.
Please read the Inmate Visiting Information prior to your visit.
Visiting Applications
You can find Visiting Application Forms in English and Spanish by clicking here. You will need to print off the application and mail in the application.
All visiting applications must be sent to :
MCF-Rush City
Attn: Visiting Unit
7600 525th Street
Rush City, MN 55069
If you have questions about the visiting applications, please contact the Rush City Visiting Unit at 320-358-0400.
General Visiting Rules
A maximum of four visitors are allowed per visiting session, with the exception of an additional two children under the age of two. A non-contact visit is limited to two visitors with the exception of an additional child under the age of two.
A photographer may be available to take pictures in the visiting room. During non-contact visiting status, no photos may be taken.
The restroom areas are off limits during a visit. Restrooms are available in the lobby. If you leave the visiting room for any reason, the visit is considered terminated.
Visits are limited to one visit with the same offender per visitor per day.
Personal Property Rules in the Visiting Room
Visitors are not allowed to bring any items in or out of the visiting room without staff approval.
The introduction of contraband to a facility or its grounds is an offense punishable by law. The exchange of any item in the visiting room, without prior approval, may be treated as a smuggling offense.
Dress Code
Conservative clothing is required for all ages. Clothing must cover the upper body to include shoulders, upper and lower back, midriff and cleavage. Visiting staff have the authority to refuse admission to anyone whose attire violates the visiting dress code.
Additional guidelines include, but are not limited to:
- See-through clothing, sheer fabric material, sleeveless clothing, and clothing with holes or lace that would expose any part of skin is prohibited.
- Tight or form fitting clothing that is revealing is prohibited.
- All pants, jeans or slacks must be worn at waist level.
- Undergarments must be worn at all times and must prevent from revealing anatomy. Underwire bras containing metal are not allowed.
- All skirts and dresses must cover the knee when seated.
- All shorts must cover no less than mid-thigh when seated.
- No hooded garments are allowed inside the visiting room.
- No hats, scarves, bandanas, or headgear of any kind. Religious headgear must not interfere with verification of identity and is subject to search.
- All blazers, suit jackets, and sweaters must be removed and will be searched prior to coming in.
- No outdoor jackets, vests, or coats (this includes ponchos, shawls and jean jackets).
- Footwear must not present a security or safety concern. Boot height must not exceed midcalf. No sunglasses of any kind are allowed.
- All clothing must pass metal detection.
Video Visitation
Video visitation is available at both facilities. To participate in a video visit with an offender, you must be on the offender's approved visitors list.
To schedule a video visit with an offender, go to www.Jpay.com. If the visitor has not already done so, he or she will have to establish an account with JPay. Video visits are 30 minutes long and cost $9.95.
Video visiting scheduling is unique to each facility and each living unit. The JPay website is set up so you can only schedule a visit when the kiosk is available in the offender's living unit.
All video visits are recorded and subject to monitoring.
Joining a video visitation
Scheduling a video visitation
Testing a webcam for a video visitation
Troubleshooting video visitations
Video visitation FAQs
Video Visitation Rules
Physical Address
Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake
1000 Lake Shore Drive
Moose Lake, Minnesota 55767
Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River
86032 County Highway 61
Willow River, MN 55795
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/Tmx3LBRzTQwqMM1M9
General Phone Number
(218) 485-5000 Moose Lake
(218) 372-3101 Willow River
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name and DOC Number
Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake
1000 Lake Shore Drive
Moose Lake, Minnesota 55767
Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River
86032 County Highway 61
Willow River, MN 55795
All incoming mail is reviewed by officers for contraband. All incoming mail must include the offender's commitment or department recognized legal name and Offender Identification (OID) number.
Incoming mail may include: paper with words/drawings; photographs (Polaroid photos must have the backing removed); periodicals and published materials shipped from the publisher; and clippings or photocopies of published materials that meet criteria.
Signed commercial greeting cards and postcards are allowed, however cards that play music or have electronically recorded material on them are prohibited.
Incoming mail is limited to 16 ounces per item. A maximum of 20 photographs are allowed per envelope. Polaroid photographs must have the backing removed.
To send an email to an offender, please visit JPay to create an account and send letters electronically. Before you can send an email, you will need the inmate's ID number.
Videogram
Videograms are 30-second videos that you can record and send to an inmate. 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 inmate. Click here to view the videogram rules. If your videogram is rejected, you will not receive a refund.
How to Call an Inmate
You can’t call an inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake, but they do have access to phones and are allowed to make monitored outgoing calls during approved hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Minnesota, please click here.
How to Send Money
The Minnesota Department of Corrections uses JPAY and MoneyGram for inmate money services.
How to send money:
- JPAY Website
- MoneyGram locations (including CVS and Walmart). Receive Code is 1279.
- Money Orders and cashier's checks mailed to the lockbox - no charge, however must be mailed with a money order deposit form. Payable to Jpay: PO Box 246450, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
- Click the links below to download the money order deposit form.
Programs For Inmates
Programming for inmates at Moose Lake:
Job Opportunities
MINNCOR Industries operates a textile/garment plant which produces the clothing for all offenders in the DOC system. MINNCOR also operates a state-of-the-art print shop which produces products for state government and subcontracts with private companies. Both of these, and other manufacturing job opportunities provide excellent training for post-release employment.
Employment opportunities also exist in maintenance, educational tutoring, clerks, and food services.
Educational Opportunities
Inmates who do not have a high school diploma or GED are placed in educational classes first, to achieve this important step in their progress toward release, prior to being offered any other vocational or employment opportunities.
In addition, vocational education is offered in Carpentry, telecommunications, computer literacy and technology; as well post-secondary educational opportunities.
Additional Programming
MCF-WR/ML firmly believes those who are incarcerated can benefit from the programming opportunities made available to them. Some of these programs are mandated, and some are optional. This is based on the individual assessment of each incarcerated person. As a result of program participation, not only does the individual benefit, but so does society as a whole.
- Chemical Dependency Treatment
- Restorative Justice Group
- Building Character Group
- Thinking for a Change
- Parenting Classes
- Transitions (Planning for Release)
- Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop
- Workplace and Human Relations Classes (“soft” job skills)
- Library and Recreational Activities
Programming for inmates at Willow River:
Educational, Vocational, and Restorative Justice Opportunities
Participants in CIP at Willow River participate in educational classes and chemical dependency treatment as required by an individual assessment. Participants also engage the youth and other community stakeholders at local schools in the Choices and Change program and other restorative justice endeavors.
In addition, they are afforded the opportunity to take part in vocational learning such as:
- Apiary Program (beekeeping)
- Solar Panel Technology
- College and Career Prep
CIP participants all have jobs. These jobs include, Food Services and Maintenance, as well as Work Crews, providing assistance to the community and local non-profits.
Pictures of Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake
Careers at Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake
If you are interested in a career with the Minnesota Department of Corrections at the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake, you can find job listings by clicking here.
