Find a Mississippi MDOC Inmate, Photo and Current Prison Record
If you searched for MDOC inmate mugshots, this guide covers the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The official MDOC inmate search is the correct starting point for a person in Mississippi state correctional custody. It accepts a name or MDOC identification number and can show the person’s current correctional location, sentence information, offenses and tentative release date.
Records Search
Court, Criminal, Marriage, Divorce, Property
However, MDOC is not a statewide county-jail booking roster. If someone was arrested today or recently and has not entered state prison custody, search the jail or sheriff’s roster for the county where the arrest occurred.
Official Mississippi MDOC Inmate Search Official MDOC Parolee SearchHow to Search the Mississippi MDOC Inmate Database
- Open the official inmate search. Go to the Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Search rather than beginning with a commercial mugshot directory.
- Choose your search information. Enter the person’s first and last name or use the MDOC ID number if you know it.
- Search broadly when needed. If an exact-name search fails, check spelling, remove unnecessary middle-name information and make sure you are using the person’s legal or correctional name.
- Open the matching inmate profile. Compare identifying details carefully, especially when two people have similar names.
- Check the current location. The inmate details page identifies the correctional location and may also identify the unit.
- Review sentence and offense information. Check the conviction county, sentence date, sentence length and listed offense information.
- Recheck before taking action. Facility assignments and release information can change. Confirm the live profile immediately before planning a visit, mailing correspondence or sending money.
What an MDOC Inmate Record Can Show
Current Mississippi MDOC detail pages can contain substantially more than a name. The exact fields vary by inmate, and some records may have blank fields.
| MDOC record field | How it helps |
|---|---|
| MDOC ID number | A correctional identifier that is usually the safest way to distinguish inmates with similar names and repeat a future search. |
| Name | Confirms the identity used in the MDOC record. |
| Date of birth | Useful for separating people who have the same or similar names. |
| Physical description | Depending on the record, this may include height, weight, complexion, build, eye color and hair color. |
| Entry date | Shows the date associated with entry into the MDOC record displayed. |
| Location and unit | Identifies the correctional location and, when listed, the assigned unit. |
| Location change date | Helps show when the current location assignment changed. |
| Number of sentences / total length | Summarizes sentence information maintained in the corrections record. |
| Offense | Lists the offense connected with a sentence in MDOC custody. |
| County of conviction | Identifies the Mississippi county associated with the conviction. |
| Sentence date and length | Shows available sentencing information for each listed offense. |
| Tentative release date | An anticipated release date maintained by MDOC. Treat it as tentative rather than a guaranteed pickup date. |
A corrections profile is not the same thing as a complete court file. If you need indictments, motions, hearing dates, judgments or a complete case history, use the court responsible for the criminal case.
How to Check MDOC Inmate Mugshots or Photos
The official inmate profile is the appropriate place to check whether MDOC currently displays a photograph for the person you are researching. A separate statewide Mississippi “mugshot-only” MDOC database should not be assumed to exist, and a photo may not be available for every public profile.
When a photograph is shown, use it only as one identity check. Compare the MDOC number, full name, date of birth, location and sentence details as well. Photographs and physical descriptions can become outdated over time.
MDOC Search vs. Mississippi County Jail Booking Search
This is one of the most important differences for anyone searching after a recent arrest.
| Situation | Where to search first | What you may find |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested today or recently | County sheriff or jail | Booking date, current jail status, charges, bond and sometimes a booking photograph |
| Serving a Mississippi state sentence | MDOC Inmate Search | MDOC number, facility, sentence, offense, conviction county and tentative release date |
| Released to parole | MDOC Parolee Search | Public parole information available through the state system |
| Need court outcome | Responsible Mississippi court | Case filings, hearings, judgment and disposition |
| Need an older or additional MDOC record | MDOC public-record request | Records available under the department’s public-record process |
If the arrest happened locally, our Mississippi county guides can take you directly through the correct jail system:
- Hinds County Jail Inmate Search & Roster for the Jackson-area county jail system.
- DeSoto County, MS Jail Inmate Search & Roster for Hernando and surrounding DeSoto County communities.
- Jackson County, MS Jail Inmate Search & Roster for local custody in the Pascagoula area.
- If you are unsure whether the person is in a local jail or state prison, use our state jail inmate search guide to identify the correct custody system first.
Why an Inmate May Not Appear in the MDOC Search
Recent arrest
The person may still be in a county detention facility awaiting court, bond, sentencing or transfer. Search the county jail instead.
Reception and classification
New state commitments go through intake and classification. MDOC says this process can take from about two weeks to 45 days, so location information can change during that period.
Name mismatch
Try the legal surname, alternate spelling or MDOC number. Do not rely on a nickname alone.
Parole status
If the person is no longer shown as an inmate but is on parole, use the separate MDOC Parolee Search.
Different custody system
The person may be in federal custody, another state, a county jail or another agency rather than Mississippi state corrections.
Record question
If you know the person should have an MDOC record but the public search does not answer your question, contact MDOC or use its written records-request process.
The MDOC main office is at 301 North Lamar Street, Jackson, MS 39201, and the department lists its main telephone number as 601-359-5600.
Mississippi MDOC State Facilities and Locations
The MDOC directory separates correctional locations into state institutions, regional facilities, privately operated facilities, community work centers, restitution centers and other correctional programs. A search result can therefore show a facility name that is different from the state’s main prisons.
| State facility | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Central Mississippi Correctional Facility | 3794 MS Hwy 468, Pearl, MS 39208 | 601-932-2880 |
| Delta Correctional Facility | 3800 Baldwin Road, CR540, Greenwood, MS 38930 | 662-455-7277 |
| Marshall County Correctional Facility | 833 West Street, Holly Springs, MS 38634 | 662-252-7111 |
| Mississippi Correctional Institute for Women | 3794 MS Hwy 468, Pearl, MS 39208 | 601-932-2880 |
| Mississippi State Penitentiary | MS Hwy 49 West, Parchman, MS 38738 | 662-745-6611 |
| South Mississippi Correctional Institution | 22689 MS Hwy 63 North, Leakesville, MS 39451 | 601-394-5600 |
| Walnut Grove Correctional Facility | 1650 MS Hwy 492, Walnut Grove, MS 39189 | 601-253-0700 |
MDOC also lists regional and private correctional facilities. Because an inmate can move between locations, use the location shown on the live inmate profile before sending mail, scheduling a visit or traveling.
How to Check an MDOC Release Date, Parole or Time Information
MDOC inmate profiles can show a tentative release date. The word “tentative” matters. Sentence calculations, credits, court actions, parole decisions and other correctional factors can affect an anticipated date.
For detailed questions about an offender’s time, jail credit or eligibility dates, MDOC currently lists its Records Department at:
- Phone: 601-933-2889
- Mail: P.O. Box 24388, Jackson, MS 39225
- Email: [email protected]
MDOC’s family information also explains that the inmate’s case manager communicates the actual release arrangements to the inmate. Therefore, do not make travel or pickup plans based only on a tentative date displayed weeks or months earlier.
If the person has moved to parole supervision, search separately:
After You Find the Inmate: Visits, Money, Calls and Mail
Visiting an MDOC inmate
For MDOC state facilities, the inmate starts the visitation-application process by obtaining an application through the institution and sending it to the prospective visitor. MDOC states that visitation forms are not available online and are not emailed or mailed directly by the department to prospective visitors.
- The inmate can maintain a visitation list with up to 10 visitors.
- People who are not on the approved list are not permitted to visit.
- No more than five people, including children, may visit an offender at one time under the general state-facility rules.
- Visitors age 18 and older need valid photo identification.
- Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- MDOC advises visitors to confirm approval and contact the facility before making travel plans.
- Regional and privately operated facilities can have different schedules or procedures.
Check current MDOC visitation rules.
Sending money
MDOC’s current money page says transfers to inmate banking are accepted online through Premier.Services or in person through Western Union agent locations. Procedures can differ for inmates housed in facilities not directly operated by MDOC, so verify the inmate’s location first.
Current MDOC inmate money instructions
Phone calls, text and messaging
MDOC currently identifies ConnectNetwork/ViaPath services for inmates in state-operated and private facilities. New telephone accounts can be established through the provider, and MDOC lists 877-650-4249 for account or billing help. Regional county prisons may use a different provider, so contact the particular facility if the inmate cannot be found through the listed service.
Current MDOC telephone instructions
Sending inmate mail
Before mailing anything, confirm the inmate’s current facility and housing unit. MDOC currently instructs incoming mail to be addressed with:
- Inmate name and MDOC number
- Current housing unit
- Institution or facility name
- Facility address
- City, state and ZIP code
- A complete sender return address
MDOC also restricts numerous items, including cash, money orders, packages, hardback books, certain photographs and other prohibited materials. Check the live mail page before sending anything that is not a normal letter.
Current MDOC inmate mail rules
Custody and release notifications
Mississippi SAVIN provides automated VINE notifications for participating county-jail offenders and MDOC state offenders. Available notifications can include transfers, return to custody, escape or absconding, and release from custody. This can be more useful than manually checking an inmate page every day.
Mississippi SAVIN/VINE information
How to Request Older or Additional MDOC Records
The public inmate lookup is designed for quick correctional information, not every document MDOC may maintain. If you need a record that is not available through the inmate profile, use the department’s public-record process.
- Search the public inmate database first. Save the correct MDOC number if you find the person.
- Identify what is missing. Be specific about the record or information you need rather than asking for “everything.”
- Use MDOC’s written request process. The department states that requests to examine, copy or obtain public records must be made in writing.
- Do not use a telephone call as the public-record request itself. MDOC specifically says records requests are not accepted by telephone.
- Keep identifying information ready. Include the inmate’s full name and MDOC number when known so the department can distinguish the correct person.
MDOC Public Records Requests MDOC Contact Directory
MDOC Inmate Mugshots and Search FAQs
1. How do I search for a Mississippi MDOC inmate?
Use the official Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Search. Enter the person’s first and last name or MDOC ID number, open the matching result and verify the MDOC number, date of birth, correctional location and sentence information.
2. Can I search MDOC inmates by MDOC number?
Yes. The official Mississippi inmate search accepts an MDOC ID number. When you know the number, it is generally more reliable than searching a common name.
3. Does the MDOC search show inmate mugshots?
The official inmate profile is the correct place to check for an available correctional photograph. A photo should not be assumed to appear on every public record, and MDOC does not need to be treated as a separate statewide mugshot-only database.
4. Does Mississippi MDOC show recent county jail bookings?
Not as a universal statewide county booking roster. Someone arrested recently may still be in a county jail. Search the sheriff or jail roster for the county where the arrest occurred before assuming the person should appear in MDOC.
5. What information appears on a Mississippi MDOC inmate profile?
Available fields can include the MDOC ID, date of birth, physical description, entry date, location, unit, sentence information, offenses, conviction county, sentence date and tentative release date. Some fields may be blank.
6. Why can’t I find someone in the MDOC inmate search?
The person may still be in county jail, may be under another jurisdiction, may be listed under a different spelling, may have moved to parole status or may be going through intake and classification. Verify the jurisdiction before concluding that no custody record exists.
7. How do I find a Mississippi inmate’s release date?
Check the inmate’s MDOC profile for a tentative release date. For detailed questions about time calculations, jail credit or eligibility dates, contact the MDOC Records Department. Treat a tentative date as subject to change.
8. How do I find someone who is on parole in Mississippi?
Use the separate MDOC Parolee Search. It allows searches using information such as the person’s name, MDOC ID, city or county.
9. How do I know which Mississippi prison holds an inmate?
Open the inmate’s current MDOC details page and check the location and unit fields. Recheck the live profile before traveling or mailing anything because an inmate can be transferred.
10. How can I request an MDOC inmate record that is not shown online?
Use the Mississippi Department of Corrections public-record request process. MDOC states that requests to examine, copy or obtain public records must be submitted in writing and are not accepted by telephone.
- Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Search
- MDOC Parolee Search
- MDOC Facilities Directory
- MDOC Family & Friends / Visitation
- MDOC Public Records Requests
- MDOC Contact Directory
Custody location, facility procedures, service providers and release information can change. Use the live MDOC record for the final verification before visiting, sending money or relying on a release date.