Mississippi State Prisons
9 facilities- MDOC - East Mississippi Correctional Facility (EMCF)
- MDOC-Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF)
- MDOC-Delta Correctional Facility (DCF)
- MDOC-Marshall County Correctional Facility (MCCF)
- MDOC-Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP)
Federal Facilities in Mississippi
3 facilitiesMississippi County Jails
61 facilities- Adams County MS Jail
- Amite County Jail
- Attala County MS Jail
- Benton County MS Jail
- Calhoun County MS Jail
Mississippi Department of Corrections
Mississippi DOC inmate search allows searches by MDOC number or name. Mississippi has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country and has faced significant scrutiny over prison conditions, particularly at the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman).
The official inmate search is available at www.mdoc.ms.gov/Inmate-Info/Pages/Inmate-search.aspx. FCC Yazoo City in Mississippi houses federal inmates at multiple security levels.
Visitation in Mississippi Facilities
MDOC visitor approval requires a visitor application. Processing takes 3 - 5 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. Mississippi has faced criticism for restrictive visiting policies. Dress code strictly enforced.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Mississippi prison directory.
Sending Mail to Mississippi Inmates
Mississippi DOC mail requires the inmate's MDOC number. Parchman is divided into multiple units - mail must be addressed to the correct unit. Get the specific unit address from MDOC's inmate search before mailing anything to Parchman.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Mississippi facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Mississippi Facilities
Mississippi is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. GTL/ViaPath holds the MDOC contract for most facilities.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Mississippi prison directory.
Sending Money to Mississippi Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Mississippi:
- JPay (primary for MDOC)
- Money orders mailed to facility
- Lobby kiosks at some locations
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Mississippi
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Mississippi:
- Mississippi DOC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Mississippi Center for Justice - Civil rights legal advocacy statewide
- NAACP Mississippi - Civil rights advocacy including prison conditions
- Southern Poverty Law Center - Litigation on Mississippi prison conditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Mississippi Prisons
What is Parchman Farm?
Mississippi State Penitentiary - known universally as Parchman Farm - is one of the most historically significant and controversial prisons in American history. Established in 1901 on 18,000 acres of Mississippi Delta farmland that had previously operated as a cotton plantation, Parchman operated for decades as a penal farm where inmates - predominantly Black men - were forced to work the fields under conditions that civil rights historians have documented as bearing direct continuity with slavery. Parchman has been the subject of major civil rights litigation, landmark Supreme Court decisions, Leadbelly songs, award-winning documentaries, and ongoing reporting. Following riots and deaths in 2019 - 2020 that resulted in at least 13 inmate deaths, Parchman came under emergency federal scrutiny. Conditions at several Mississippi facilities remain under legal and journalistic review.
Why does Parchman have units?
Parchman is organized into distinct farm units spread across 18,000 acres. Each unit - Unit 29, Unit 30, Unit 32, etc. - has a different designation and functions somewhat independently. Mail, visitation, and contact information differs by unit. Always confirm the specific unit number from MDOC's search before mailing.
Does Mississippi have free prison phone calls?
No - Mississippi has not eliminated phone call fees for state inmates. GTL/ViaPath holds the MDOC contract for most facilities. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps reduced per-minute rates at state and federal facilities - a significant reduction from what had been historically very high Mississippi rates. However calls are still charged per minute. Phone contact has historically been especially important for Mississippi incarcerated families because many state facilities are in rural parts of the Delta, Piney Woods, and other areas far from where families live, making in-person visitation expensive and time-consuming. If phone costs remain a barrier, written mail and JPay electronic messaging are the most cost-effective alternatives.
What is the MDOC number?
The MDOC number is the unique identification number assigned by the Mississippi Department of Corrections to every person sentenced to Mississippi state prison. At Parchman, you need both the MDOC number and the specific unit address to get mail to your inmate - without both, mail is routinely lost or returned. Find your inmate's MDOC number through the MDOC Inmate Search at mdoc.ms.gov, or ask your inmate directly. Keep it written somewhere accessible - you'll need it for JPay deposits, communications with facility staff, and all mail regardless of which MDOC facility your inmate is at.
What happened at Mississippi prisons in 2020?
In January 2020, a wave of violence swept through several Mississippi DOC facilities - most severely at Parchman, but also at other units. Over several weeks, at least 13 inmates died in the violence, and there were multiple riots, fires, and hostage situations. Investigations by the Associated Press, ProPublica, and other outlets documented years of overcrowding, understaffing, failing infrastructure, and inadequate programming that created the conditions for the violence. Mississippi DOC came under emergency federal oversight, the state pledged reforms, and litigation followed. Conditions at several Mississippi facilities remain under legal scrutiny. Understanding this context is important for families with loved ones in the Mississippi system - the history shapes current conditions.
How do I contact a family member at an MDOC private prison?
Several Mississippi DOC facilities are privately operated - East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Meridian (Management & Training Corporation) and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville. Inmates at these facilities are still MDOC inmates with MDOC numbers, but day-to-day management is handled by the private company. Contact information differs from state-operated facilities. For East Mississippi CF, contact MTC directly at 601-693-0690. For Wilkinson County CF, contact the facility at 601-888-6900. Use the MDOC inmate search to confirm current location, then contact the specific facility for mail addresses, visiting schedules, and phone system information.