How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at East Mississippi Correctional Facility

At East Mississippi Correctional Facility, the visitation application process begins inside the facility. The inmate has to initiate it by sending you the

Start by asking the inmate to send you the Application for Visiting Privileges. That packet is how MDOC expects prospective visitors to apply, and it comes directly from the inmate to the people they want to see. If you haven't received the paperwork, the inmate likely hasn't initiated the process for you yet.

Be clear about who you're trying to visit. Under MDOC rules, visitors can only see one inmate per visit - unless you're immediate family to more than one. If you have multiple loved ones in custody, plan ahead so you're requesting the right paperwork for the person you intend to see.

1. Read the packet from start to finish - Use the instructions printed in the visitor application package the inmate sent you.
2. Complete every section - MDOC requires you to complete all parts of the Application for Visiting Privileges.
3. Sign where required - Don’t skip signatures; incomplete applications can slow things down.
4. Mail it to the address listed in the packet - Send your completed application to the MDOC address shown in the visitor application package (use that packet’s address, not a guess).

Documents

• ✓ Valid photo ID if you’re 18 or older (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
• ✓ If you’re applying as the inmate’s spouse: a certified copy of your marriage license
• ✓ If you’re applying as the inmate’s spouse: where the marriage took place (state, county, city)
• ✓ If you’re applying as the inmate’s spouse: the name of the church/courthouse/etc. where the ceremony was performed
• ✓ If you’re applying as the inmate’s spouse: if possible, the name of the person who performed the ceremony

Certain situations can block your approval entirely - or require written permission from the superintendent before a visit is allowed. If you're on probation, parole, or another type of conditional release, you generally won't be allowed to visit unless you can establish a verifiable family relationship and get written approval from the superintendent. Past or current MDOC employment triggers extra review. Former employees must get permission from the superintendent (or designee). Current employees may visit only if they're immediate family, can provide verifiable proof of that relationship, and receive superintendent approval. MDOC can also exclude anyone identified as a victim of the offender or believed to pose a threat to the inmate or the prison. Convicted felons are prohibited from visiting except when immediate family can be established - and even then, written superintendent permission is required.

Once you're approved, plan your group carefully. During general visitation, no more than five people total - including babies and children - may visit an inmate at one time. Your visit is also tied to one inmate. You can only visit one person per visit unless you're immediate family to more than one inmate.

Quick Tips

• ✓ Confirm you have written approval before you travel
• ✓ Follow the instructions and mailing address shown in the visitor application package (don’t rely on an online form - there isn’t one)
• ✓ If you’re unsure about your status or what to do next, contact the facility or call the MDOC central office at 601-359-5600