Minnesota Inmates Can Now Receive E-mail

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Minnesota's prison system has finally moved into the electronic age with inmate email - at least partially.

Beginning Monday, inmates in the state's 10 prisons can receive messages from family and friends via email. But to send a letter, prisoners will still have to use paper, pen and postage.

Any emails sent to the state's 9,300 adult inmates will be printed by correctional officers and placed in their mailboxes. Minnesota Department of Corrections deputy commissioner, Terry Carlson, says emails will reduce the risk of contraband arriving with a mailed letter.

The emails have a price. Each will cost the sender 30 cents, with 20 cents going to the state to cover expenses. The system will be run by Advanced Technologies Group of Iowa.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)