Project allowing e-mail printouts to prisoners expands

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St. Paul – A pilot project that allows inmates to receive printouts of e-mail messages from family and friends is expanding from Shakopee and Oak Park Heights to all Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) prisons.

The Offender Messaging System (O-Mail) reduces incoming mail, which lowers the risk of contraband being sent into the facilities and allows for better surveillance and monitoring of offender correspondence. Because offenders do not have access to the internet, messages are printed out and delivered with regular mail.

“This is a great tool for us,” said Commissioner Tom Roy. “Not only does it reduce the risk of contraband sent into facilities, but we have heard good feedback from offenders and their families. A recent study by the DOC shows that maintaining positive relationships with loved ones in the community can make the difference in whether someone returns to prison after release.”

To send an O-Mail message, family or friends create an account and log in to a secure website, www.corrlinks.com. Senders pay $0.30 per message, which is less expensive and faster than sending a letter. The system is one way, so the offender must still write back using a written letter and the mail system.

The same system is already used in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and several state corrections departments. It has processed over 100 million messages nationally.

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