Mississippi has three types of correctional facilities that house state inmates: state-operated prisons, privately operated contract facilities, and 15 regional county prisons operated under local county administrations. The state also has 82 county jails for local detainees. Phone access and vendors differ across all three.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) uses ViaPath/GTL (ConnectNetwork) for phone calls at state-operated facilities and most private contract facilities. However - and this is stated explicitly on the official MDOC website - the 15 regional county prisons are operated under local administrations and some may not use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. If you cannot find the facility or inmate through ConnectNetwork, contact the facility directly for their phone vendor.
Mississippi MDOC uses "inmates" and "offenders" in official materials.
PART 1 - MDOC STATE AND CONTRACT FACILITIES
Phone vendor: ViaPath Technologies / GTL (Global Tel*Link) - ConnectNetwork
MDOC's official phone page distinguishes two services from the same company:
- ConnectNetwork.com: handles telephone (voice) services
- ViaPath Global Tel Link: handles text and messaging through prison-issued tablets
These are the same parent company but different platforms and accounts. A ConnectNetwork phone account is separate from a ViaPath tablet/messaging account.
How MDOC phone calls work
Inmates place outgoing calls only. Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. The inmate calls from a facility phone to numbers on their approved calling list. All calls are monitored and recorded.
Setting up a ConnectNetwork account
Online: connectnetwork.com
Customer service: 877-650-4249 (business hours Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat 8am-5pm Central Time)
AdvancePay automated line: 1-800-483-8314 (available 24 hours; create account, make credit card payment, check balance)
Account types:
AdvancePay (prepaid collect): You fund an account tied to your phone number. When the inmate calls your number, charges are deducted from your balance. Works for all phone types including cell phones.
Debit: Inmate-managed account funded through the commissary/trust process.
Rate
The current per-minute rate is not published on the official MDOC phone page. The most recently confirmed rate was $0.039/min (effective March 2018), which was among the lowest in the country at that time. Mississippi was not among the states identified as above the FCC 2025 IPCS Order caps (FL, KY, OK only), so the current rate is at or below $0.12/min.
Verify the exact current rate at connectnetwork.com or call 877-650-4249 before adding funds.
MDOC state-operated prisons
Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP/Parchman)
Located in Parchman, Sunflower County. Mississippi's oldest institution (opened 1901). Approximately 18,000 acres. Houses close custody, restrictive housing, extended restrictive housing, protective custody, and death row. All male.
Phone: 662-745-6611; Records: ext. 2321
Phone vendor: ViaPath/ConnectNetwork (GTL)
Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF)
Located in Pearl, Rankin County. Houses female offenders and some male classifications.
Phone: 601-932-2880; Records: ext. 6243
Phone vendor: ViaPath/ConnectNetwork (GTL)
South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI)
Located in Leakesville, Greene County.
Phone: 601-394-5600; Records: ext. 1209
Phone vendor: ViaPath/ConnectNetwork (GTL)
Private contract facilities
MDOC contracts with private prison operators to house some inmates. Private facilities confirmed to use GTL/ViaPath include:
East Mississippi Correctional Facility (EMCF) - MTC; Meridian, Lauderdale County
Phone vendor: GTL/ConnectNetwork confirmed
Wilkinson County Correctional Facility - private operator
Marshall County Correctional Facility - private operator
For private facilities not listed here, verify the current phone vendor directly with the facility.
The 15 regional county prisons - VERIFY SEPARATELY
Mississippi has 15 regional correctional facilities operated under local county administrations that house state inmates. MDOC explicitly states on its official website that some of these facilities may not use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork.
If you are trying to reach someone at one of these facilities:
1. First, try searching for the inmate and facility at connectnetwork.com.
2. If the facility or inmate does not appear, contact the facility directly to ask which phone vendor they use and how to set up an account.
Do not fund a ConnectNetwork account if the regional facility uses a different vendor - the funds will not be accessible for calls from that facility.
MDOC headquarters and inmate locator
MDOC Central Office: 301 North Lamar Street, Jackson MS 39201 | 601-359-5600
Central Office Records: 601-933-2889
Inmate locator: Search by name or ID number at mdoc.ms.gov (search box on homepage)
PART 2 - COUNTY JAILS (82 counties)
Mississippi has 82 counties, each operating its own jail for pretrial and locally sentenced individuals. County jails contract phone services independently from MDOC and are separate from the 15 regional county prisons. Common vendors include ViaPath/ConnectNetwork, Securus Technologies, and NCIC Inmate Communications.
NCIC Inmate Communications serves some Mississippi county jails and was represented at the November 2024 Louisiana Public Service Commission hearing (which covered Gulf South telecom providers). If your county jail uses NCIC, setup is through their platform.
How to find your county jail's vendor: Go to the county sheriff's official website and look for "Inmate Telephone," "Phone Calls," or "Jail Services." Call the jail directly if not posted online.
What to do before the first call
For an MDOC state prison or private contract facility:
1. Find the inmate's MDOC number and current facility at mdoc.ms.gov
2. Ask the inmate to add your phone number to their approved calling list
3. Confirm the facility uses ConnectNetwork/ViaPath (state prisons and most private facilities do)
4. Set up a ConnectNetwork AdvancePay account at connectnetwork.com or call 1-800-483-8314
5. Fund the account
6. Wait for the inmate to initiate the call
For a regional county prison or county jail:
1. Find the inmate's location through mdoc.ms.gov or the county's website
2. Contact the facility directly to confirm the current phone vendor
3. Set up an account with that vendor
4. Add funds
5. Wait for the inmate to call
Frequently asked questions
Who provides phone calls at Mississippi state prisons?
ViaPath/GTL (ConnectNetwork) at all three MDOC-operated state prisons and most private contract facilities. Setup at connectnetwork.com or call 1-800-483-8314; customer service 877-650-4249.
Do the 15 regional county prisons use the same vendor?
Not necessarily. The official MDOC website states that some may not use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. Always contact the facility directly if you cannot find it through ConnectNetwork.
What is the rate?
Not published on the official MDOC page. The last confirmed rate was $0.039/min (March 2018). Current rate is at or below the FCC 2025 cap of $0.12/min. Verify at connectnetwork.com before adding funds.
What is the difference between ConnectNetwork and ViaPath Global Tel Link?
Both are the same parent company. ConnectNetwork handles phone calls. ViaPath's platform (accessed through globaltel.com or the ViaPath app) handles text messaging and content on prison-issued tablets. You need separate accounts for each.
What is Parchman?
The Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP), commonly known as Parchman Farm, is Mississippi's oldest and largest state prison. It is located on approximately 18,000 acres in Sunflower County, Mississippi Delta. Like all MDOC state prisons, phone calls go through ConnectNetwork/ViaPath. ====================================================================
Stay Connected with InmateAid
Reach Your Loved One in Mississippi
InmateAid helps families stay in touch. Set up discounted calls, send letters and photos, add money, or send approved magazines - all in one place.