What Are Mississippi Inmate Records?

Mississippi inmate records are made up of details on the arrest and conviction of offenders confined in Mississippi correctional facilities, including state prisons and county/city jails. Commonly referred to as Penpak in Mississippi, inmate records include information on the convictions, sentencing orders, timesheets, indictments, and social admissions.

The Division of Records, under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), collates and issues records of inmates detained in correctional facilities across the state. The Division of Records is the central repository, where interested persons may obtain these records. The information included in a Mississippi inmate record consists of the following:

• First and last names
• Inmate ID number
• Date of birth 
• Physical definers, including weight, height, build, hair color, eye color, complexion, and race
• Offense committed
• Sentence term
• Mugshot
• Charge description
• Facility location
• County of Conviction
• Tentative Release
• Bail information (if any)
• Number of Sentences
• Sex 
• Prison term, including the booking and release date

Under the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, interested persons may request inmate records of offenders imprisoned in Mississippi correctional facilities. Mississippi inmate records are public and may be viewed or obtained at the appropriate state or county repositories. At Mississippi counties, the jail administration or sheriff’s office manages access to inmate records for offenders in county jail. The state repository also has an online platform where interested persons may search for inmate information under its jurisdiction.

 how To Find An Inmate In Mississippi?

The Division of Records, under the control of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), maintains an online inmate search portal. The search portal grants access to information on inmates in custody, and also provides information on the inmates’ current location. To search the portal, provide either the inmate’s ID number or the inmate’s last name. Searching with an ID number provides a more specific search result. However, the requestor may search with the inmate’s last name if the inmate ID number is unknown.

For a search conducted with the inmate’s last name, the requestor may only fill in the first few letters of the inmate’s last name if unsure of the exact name. The search will then provide results, showing persons with a related name. For instance, if the requestor searches with the name “Chris,” the search results will provide information on persons with related names such as “Christopher” and “Christian.” 

Interested persons may also search for a parolee in Mississippi by using the parolee search portal. Contact the Mississippi Records Division at (601) 933–2889 for any inquiries regarding inmate records.

The county sheriff’s departments or jail administrations in counties across Mississippi also provide information on inmates in county jails. Typically, counties with a large population like Jackson County have an inmate lookup portal where interested persons may access inmate information online. The inmate lookup or roster portal is usually provided on the county sheriff’s website, if available. The Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association website provides a list of Mississippi Sheriffs’ contact details in the state.

How To Find A Federal Inmate In Mississippi?

The Federal Correctional Complex, Yazoo City, is the only federal facility in Mississippi. Interested persons may search for a federal inmate in Mississippi, using the inmate locator provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons(BOP). The BOP maintains an online database containing information on inmates detained in the federal facility from 1982 to date. Also, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) preserves federal inmate records of offenders imprisoned between 1870 and 1981.

Requestors may query the online database for records under the NARA purview, before 1982. Requests must contain the following information:

• Inmate’s name, including middle name/initials
• Race
• Date of birth or approximate age at the time of imprisonment 
• Approximate dates in prison

For inmate records under the Federal Bureau of Prisons(BOP) purview, use the inmate locator to access this information. There are two ways interested persons can query the inmate locator, including:

• Search by name 
• Search by number

A search by name requires the user to complete the required fields with the inmate’s first, middle, and last names. The other fields should be completed with the inmate’s race, age, and sex, to streamline the search results. Note that a name search usually provides information on inmates with related names.

For a search by number, the user is required to select an ID number and provide the chosen number. In a search by number, the requestor will be required to provide any of these ID numbers:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) number
• Department of Corrections (DCDC) number
• Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) number
• Bureau of Prisons (BOP) register number

How Do I Find Inmate Records In Mississippi?

Mississippi inmate record requestors may query the Division of Records under the authority of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). The MDOC Records Division maintains official records of persons detained in state prisons and other correctional facilities under its control.

Interested persons may request an inmate record by calling the Records Division at (601) 933–2889. Inmate records are mostly provided at a fee paid only by money order or a cashier’s check. The money order or cashier’s check should be payable to the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

The fees that may be required for the copying of an inmate record include:

• A minimum fee of $2.00 per request and $10 per hour
• 25 cents for each page with legal size
• 35 cents per page for a larger size

The MDOC Records Division may charge additional fees for postage charges. However, prosecuting attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and court orders of criminal prosecution are exempted from paying the required fee. To make payments, mail to:

Records Department, 

PO. Box 24388, 

Jackson, MS 39225

The processing time for records is seven working days from the payment date. If the records cannot be provided after the processing time has elapsed, the MDOC will send a written explanation to the person.

Below are MDOC addresses where interested persons may make inquires on inmate records:

Main Records Office

601–933–2889, 

ext. 6095 / 6011

Fax: 601–973–3891 

ext. 2333 / 2320

Fax: 662–745–2334

CMCF Records

601–932–2880, 

ext. 6254 / 6622

Fax: 601–932–6234

SMCI Records

601–394–5600, 

ext. 1205

Fax: 601–394–1206

The MDOC also provides an inmate search portal where members of the public may search to retrieve information on Mississippi inmates in custody. However, note that the records provided here are not certified records and may not be used for official purposes.

Requestors may obtain records on inmates in county jails by contacting the Jail Administrator or the County Sheriff in the county or city jail. For instance, inmate records of persons in Adams County jail may be obtained at the Adams County Sheriff’s office at:

306 State St, Natchez, 

MS 39120, United States

Phone: +1 601–442–2752

The Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association website provides a list of Mississippi Sheriffs’ contact details in the state.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How To Put Money On Jail Inmates Book In Mississippi?

Family, friends, and other depositors may send money to inmates under the MDOC’s jurisdiction using any of the following methods:

• Premier Services –Online
• Western Union—In-person

Interested persons may make payments with a debit or credit card by using the Premiere Services payment portal. It is necessary to know the exact facility where the inmate is detained and the inmate’s ID or name. Note that funds deposited in the inmate’s account may be subject to deductions, according to the inmate’s debt.

Interested persons may make payments at a nearby Western Union location or call +1–800–325–6000. To make payments, fill in the blue section of the Western Union form and provide the inmate’s name and birth date.

To deposit funds into a county jail inmate’s account, see the county sheriff’s website for more details. The Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association website provides a list of Mississippi Sheriffs’ contact details in the state. In most counties, a kiosk is provided in the visitation area for these deposits.