Mississippi State Penitentiary
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Mississippi State Penitentiary. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- State Facility
- Security Level
- Maximum
- Inmate Capacity
- 4,000 approx.
- Established
- 1901
- Operated By
- Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC)
Mississippi State Penitentiary Inmate Communication Overview
Mississippi State Penitentiary, widely known as Parchman Farm or simply Parchman, is a maximum-security state prison operated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, located in Sunflower County in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Parchman has operated as a working prison farm since its founding in 1901 on land that was previously a cotton plantation. It is one of the oldest continuously operating prisons in the United States and one of the most historically significant correctional facilities in American history, having held a wide range of individuals from civil rights activists to some of the state's most serious offenders. The facility occupies a large rural tract in an agricultural part of the Delta.
Communication at Parchman operates through Mississippi DOC provider contracts. JPay handles electronic messaging, photo sharing, and money transfers. Families create a JPay account and add the inmate using their Mississippi DOC number to begin correspondence. Securus Technologies manages phone calls and video visitation at Parchman under the MDOC contract. Setting up a Securus prepaid account allows families to receive inmate-initiated calls. Video visits through Securus are available and are a practical option given how remote the facility is, Parchman is more than two hours north of Jackson in a rural area without major nearby towns.
The conditions and operations at Parchman have been the subject of ongoing legal and reform proceedings, and conditions can change more rapidly here than at more stable facilities. Communication access may be affected by facility lockdowns, population movement, or administrative changes. Families whose loved one has recently arrived at Parchman should confirm current communication availability directly with the facility or through MDOC before counting on a specific communication schedule. The Mississippi DOC offers an inmate search tool that can help confirm current housing assignment within the large facility.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
3794 MS Highway 32, Parchman, MS 38738
Main Phone
(662) 745-6611
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Inmate Name, ID Number Mississippi State Penitentiary P.O. Box 1057 Parchman, MS 38738
Include the inmate name and ID on all mail.
Fax
(662) 745-8912
Communication Options
Available communication services at Mississippi State Penitentiary.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: JPay
Available. Confirm current access as facility conditions can change.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: Securus
Remote video visits available. Practical given the facility's remote Delta location.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Provider: JPay
Digital photos via JPay. Subject to MDOC content guidelines.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: Securus
Inmate-initiated calls. Fund Securus prepaid account to receive calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: JPay
Trust account deposits via JPay for commissary and personal purchases.
Communication Providers at Mississippi State Penitentiary
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
JPay
Messaging, photo sharing, and trust account deposits. Requires Mississippi DOC number.
View JPay ServicesSecurus
Phone calls and video visitation under the MDOC contract. Video is especially practical given the remote location.
View Securus ServicesCommunication Rules at Mississippi State Penitentiary
- Facility conditions and lockdowns can affect communication access. Confirm current status before assuming standard access.
- JPay and Securus are separate platforms. Messaging and phone funds are not interchangeable.
- Messages via JPay are reviewed by MDOC staff before delivery.
- Video visits must be scheduled in advance through Securus.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Mississippi State Penitentiary
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I send a message to someone at Parchman?
- Create a JPay account at jpay.com and add the inmate using their Mississippi DOC number. Purchase stamps and send your message. Staff review messages before delivery. Be aware that conditions at Parchman have been subject to change; confirm current communication access is active if messages are not going through.
- How do I set up phone calls from Parchman?
- Phone calls from Mississippi State Penitentiary use Securus. Create a Securus account at securustech.net or through the Securus app. Set up a prepaid account linked to your phone number and add funds. The inmate will call you from facility phones.
- Is video visitation available at Parchman?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through Securus and are especially practical given how remote the facility is in Sunflower County. Log into your Securus account, search for Mississippi State Penitentiary, and schedule an available slot. Book well in advance.
- How remote is Parchman?
- Parchman is in the Mississippi Delta in Sunflower County, roughly 100 miles north of Jackson and more than two hours from Memphis. There are no major towns nearby. For most families, electronic communication via JPay and video visits via Securus are the most practical options for regular contact.
- How do I send money to a Parchman inmate?
- Trust account deposits are made through JPay. Log in, navigate to Send Money, and select Mississippi State Penitentiary. Add funds via debit or credit card. Processing typically takes one to two business days.
Troubleshooting at Mississippi State Penitentiary
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support. For Securus, support can be reached at 972-734-1111 after repeated failed calls.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my JPay account blocked?
- A blocked account usually means the inmate blocked contact, the account details do not match, or JPay flagged the account for review. Confirm the inmate's ID and facility, check for an 'inmate blocked' message, and contact JPay support if the block looks like an error. See our guide: JPay account locked
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