Information for Family & Friends

Understanding the impact incarceration has on the families and friends of offenders who are incarcerated, the Missouri Department of Corrections has developed a handbook to help answer questions about the department’s rules, regulations, policies, procedures and practices.

Handbook

The handbook begins by explaining what happens when an offender first enters the Missouri Department of Corrections to how the offender is placed in one of the department’s correctional institutions. It also explains all the services available to offenders within the correctional center, including educational and vocational opportunities. The handbook also ensures families and friends know what to expect when visiting their loved ones.

Read or download the full handbook – available as a PDF – from the Missouri Department of Corrections website.

Visitation

The Missouri Department of Corrections recognizes the importance of incarcerated offenders staying in touch with loved ones as part of the rehabilitation process. 

The department offers detailed information about the visiting process and requirements – including a visitor application, application instructions, an explanation of who can visit, and resources to help plan a visit – from the visiting section of its website. The department also provides visiting hours for all its adult institutions.

The Missouri Department of Corrections website also explains how to arrange for video visits for loved ones who are unable to visit in person.

Communication

There are various methods friends and family members can use to stay in touch with incarcerated offenders. The Missouri Department of Corrections website provides information about how to communicate with offenders by:

Electronic mail  |  Postal mail |  Telephone

Other resources

The Missouri Department of Corrections offers other resources for the family and friends of those incarcerated, including constituent services, an orientation for family and friends, details about visiting and corresponding with inmates, and information about inmate accounts. Learn more from the family and friends section of the Missouri Department of Corrections website.