Since February 2020, face to face visits have been suspended indefinitely owing to the COVID-19 pandemic; The state prisons and jails have not allowed volunteers into their facilities. The spike in COVID-19 cases especially in the state prisons have been serious and on the rise since July 2020. MCF – Stillwater reports that 1 in 3 inmates has COVID-19 – https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/23/1-in-3-inmates-at-stillwater-prison-currently-have-covid-figures-show/.

See Facility Specific COVID-19 Responses – https://mn.gov/doc/about/covid-19-updates/facility-specific-covid-19-responses/

Since the end of July 2020, MCF-St Cloud will temporarily cease being the intake facility for the state prisons – MCF- Lino Lakes to assume this responsibility for now.

Since September there have also been spikes in COVID-19 cases at Sandstone and Waseca (Federal facilities)- https://www.startribune.com/covid-19-cases-spike-at-two-federal-prisons-in-minnesota/572527681/

There is no indication that volunteers will be returning to the state prisons any time soon. Let us continue to pray for these facilities – the inmates/offenders and employees.