How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Mississippi Department of Corrections - MDOC (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office (county jails - 82 counties)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - MDOC Inmate Locator at mdoc.ms.gov; county Sheriff websites for local jails WHERE TO GO: MDOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office (county jail)

Online Option

Yes - MDOC Inmate Locator at mdoc.ms.gov; county Sheriff websites for local jails

Where to Go

MDOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office (county jail)

County-specific variations apply

Mississippi's 82 county Sheriffs each operate their own jail facilities. Online search capabilities vary significantly. Hinds County (Jackson), Harrison County (Gulfport/Biloxi), DeSoto County (Southaven), and Rankin County have the most accessible online systems. Rural and small Mississippi counties may have very limited online access - a direct phone call to the Sheriff's Office is often needed. Regional jail compacts allow some counties to share facilities.

Mississippi Notes

Important state-specific details

Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) manages all state prisons including Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary), South Mississippi Correctional Institution, Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, and others; Inmate Locator at mdoc.ms.gov covers state inmates and parolees.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from MDOC; recent arrests will NOT appear in MDOC database.
Mississippi Sex Offender Registry: dps.ms.gov/sor - searchable online by name or location.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a Mississippi inmate: inmateaid.com has MDOC and county jail facility details.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Mississippi Department of Corrections - mdoc.ms.gov | (601) 359-5600; Inmate Locator: mdoc.ms.gov (look for "Find an Inmate"); MDOC Records: (601) 933-2889