Sending Text Messages to Someone at Harrison County Jail: Costs, Review, and What Won’t Be Delivered
Text messaging at Harrison County facilities offers a quick way to stay connected—but each message costs money, and staff review everything before delivery. Some messages won't make it through.
Harrison County uses CityTeleCoin for inmate text messaging. Before you can send messages (or use the same system for video visitation), you’ll need to register a CityTeleCoin account online.
CityTeleCoin also handles video visits at Harrison County. These visits only work when the inmate has access to a kiosk - tablets can't be used for video visits here.
Here's what catches people off guard: every message the inmate sends - whether a reply or something they start - costs $0.25. A quick back-and-forth adds up fast if you're texting like you normally would.
Watch the small charges: Text replies or new inmate-initiated messages are $0.25 each, and video visits are $0.25 per minute. If you’re using both, it helps to set a budget upfront so the total doesn’t creep up on you.
Keep your account clean. Creating duplicate accounts can get you banned from the system - and may cause disciplinary problems for the inmate.
Your messages don't go straight through. Harrison County Sheriff's Office staff review and approve all texts before they reach the inmate. Delivery depends on that approval.
Message rejections happen: Inappropriate messages won’t be delivered. If your note includes content staff considers inappropriate - like threatening language or anything that crosses jail rules - expect it to be stopped before it reaches them.
Planning to video visit too? Know that inmates on lockdown or facing disciplinary action lose access to video visits entirely. Even without restrictions, video visits only work when the inmate can get to a kiosk.
S4
- ✓ Assume every message will be read by staff before delivery, and write like it.
- ✓ Keep messages appropriate; anything considered inappropriate may never be delivered.
- ✓ You can include an image, but send only what you’d be comfortable having reviewed and potentially rejected.
- ✓ Remember the $0.25 charge applies when the inmate responds or starts a message - plan for the back-and-forth, not just your first text.
- ✓ If you switch to video visits, budget for $0.25 per minute so the total cost stays predictable.
- ✓ When money is tight, keep messages clear and complete so you don’t need multiple paid replies to cover the basics.
Set up one account and keep it clean. Double-check your login details during registration, and don't create duplicate accounts. Duplicates can get you banned - and cause problems for the inmate.
- Reread what you sent - if it could be viewed as inappropriate, it may be blocked and never delivered.
- Factor in the approval step - messages are reviewed by HCSO staff and must be approved before they reach the inmate, so delays can happen.
- Confirm your account is properly registered - messaging at Harrison County runs through CityTeleCoin, and you need an active registered account to use it.
Still stuck? Call the Harrison County Adult Detention Center (Jail) at 228-896-3000. For issues with your CityTeleCoin account or registration, reach out to CityTeleCoin support through the same system you used to sign up.
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