RE: Changes to the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA) Earned Incentive Release (EIR) Policy

Minnesota Department of Corrections sent this bulletin at 12/29/2025 12:42 PM CST

RE: Changes to the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA) Earned Incentive Release (EIR) Policy

Date: December 29, 2025

To: Friends and Family of Incarcerated Persons

From: Paul Schnell, Commissioner

The Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA) offers new chances for people to earn earlier release by making meaningful changes in how they act and by completing the programming that will help them to be successful when they return to their communities.

Revisions to Policy 204.064, Earned Incentive Release (EIR), have been approved and published. The policy will go into effect in phases, beginning in February 2026.

What’s Changing?

One Policy for Everyone: There will now be one EIR policy for all incarcerated people. This helps everyone understand how EIR works and who can qualify.
More Ways to Earn Credit: Incarcerated people can now earn EIR credit by joining “responsivity programming,” which helps meet their needs and goals.
Accountability: If someone breaks the rules, their EIR credit can be taken away.
New Release Option: Some people may be able to move to community-based programs (Limited Program Capacity release or LPC) while still under DOC care if space is limited. This option will not be available during Phase 1.

What You Need to Know

Phase 1 begins February 2026 with MCF-Moose Lake, MCF-Shakopee, and MCF-Faribault. More facilities will be added as the EIR process expands.
In total, 4 phases are planned with full implementation expected by the end of 2027.
Criteria for Phase 1 and Phases 2-4 are attached and can be found by visiting https://engage.doc.mn.gov/minnesota-rehabilitation-and-reinvestment-act.
Each phase will include adjusted criteria. Incarcerated people who do not meet all of the requirements in the earlier phases should remain involved in programming, treatment and work assignments. They should also remain discipline free.
The MRRA EIR Deferred Review Offense List will be in place during Phase 1. The list is available in English and Spanish at https://engage.doc.mn.gov/minnesota-rehabilitation-and-reinvestment-act.

What is the Deferred Review Offense List?

If someone is serving time for an offense that’s on the MRRA Deferred Review Offense list, they won’t be able to earn EIR credit right now. These offenses will be looked at again in the future, but not during the early stages of the MRRA program. Even if an incarcerated person is not eligible yet, it’s still important for them to take part in programs and show progress in their rehabilitation. This will help them be ready when the program expands and they may become eligible.

What is a Success Planner?

The Success Planner is like a guidebook for people in prison to help them get ready for life after release.

Tells Their Story: It includes information about their past experiences with the justice system.
Sets Goals: There are worksheets to help them think about their “best self” and what they want for their future.
Tracks Good Choices: It keeps a record of their behavior in prison, like following rules and completing programs.
Shows Progress: It lists classes, programs, and activities they’ve done to reduce their chances of reoffending.
Plans for Release: It helps them make a solid plan and figure out how to return to their community successfully.

What is an Individualized Rehabilitation Plan (IRP)?

The Individualized Rehabilitation Plan (IRP) is a personal plan made for and with each person in prison to help them change and prepare for life after release. Each person gets their own plan based on their needs, risks, and goals. It’s different for everyone. It includes classes, treatment, and programs that teach skills to help the person make better choices.

Why is it Taking So Long?

There are many reasons why it is taking so long to create the policy and to expand MRRA. Here are a few:

Individualized Rehabilitation Plans (IRPs) have to be created for thousands of people.
A process that includes victim input has to be developed.

Technology needs to be updated to help track people’s progress and calculate credits