Mississippi Arrest Records

In Mississippi, arrest records refer to all official files or documents regarding arrest events within the state. Such records typically include information gathered before, during, and after an arrest event. Arrest warrants, mugshots, booking information, criminal charges, and bond amounts are commonly classified as part of arrest documents.

Arresting officers also create arrest records (also known as police or incident reports) after arresting a suspected offender. Such records are generally obtainable through local—or state-level law enforcement agencies, such as the Hinds County Sheriff's Office, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, or the Southaven City Police Department.

Are Arrest Records Public in Mississippi?

A majority of arrest records are open to the public. Under Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 et seq.), law enforcement agencies can release arrest information to the public so long as it does not include investigative or other confidential data. As such, any person can inspect or copy these records in line with an agency's request procedures.

However, not all arrest records are publicly available. Generally, an arrest record is non-public if it falls under the exemptions listed in Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-5. Court-sealed or expunged records are also inaccessible to the public. That being said, the following records are not publicly accessible in Mississippi:

• Some arrest-related data concerning juvenile arrestees.
• Medical record concerning arrest events.
• Law enforcement investigation records
• Arrest records related to pending litigation
• Privileged attorney-client communications
• Child abuse and neglect records
• Test results and questionnaires

Mississippi Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI's Collated Crime Data for Mississippi, in 2023, the state's law enforcement agencies made 54,054 arrests. Of the total figure, 38,625 and 15,402 were males and females, respectively. The report also revealed that driving under the influence and drug possession were the most-reported crimes, at 17,122 and 11,464, respectively. Other information regarding arrest events is outlined in the table below:

Mississippi Arrest Statistics

Find Public Arrest Records in Mississippi

Interested parties in Mississippi can locate arrest records through resources provided by record custodian entities. Note that law enforcement agencies, such as police and sheriff's departments, are the custodians of arrest records in Mississippi.

There are different methods of finding arrest records in Mississippi. Nevertheless, inquirers can find arrest records by using these general steps:

1. Determine the agency in charge of the record: Law enforcement agencies often maintain records of arrest events that transpired in areas under their jurisdiction. Next, determine the record availability by contacting the agency. The contact information is usually accessible via the "Contact Us" page.
2. Determine the agency's specific procedure for releasing arrest records. This step is especially important because each agency has its own procedures and guidelines for obtaining records. Some may require the requester to visit the office in person, while others require mail-in requests. In some cases, agencies may maintain online databases that contain arrest information. Note that some agencies publish record access guidelines on their websites.
3. Determine applicable fees to obtain records: You might pay search or copy fees to obtain physical copies of arrest records. Some agencies may offer waivers, especially to low-income earners or victims of criminal incidents. For instance, crime victims in Bryan City are entitled to free copies of police reports that concern their case. Some county and city law enforcement agencies provide arrest reports to the victim of a crime for free. However, the City of Moss Point Police Department and the Pascagoula Police Department charge a $10 fee to release copies of the arrest reports.
4. Follow the specified procedures to submit the request: Record custodians may sometimes deny access to certain records. In such cases, inquirers should obtain a court subpoena if they have a legitimate right to the record. A subpoena is a court order that compels a person or entity to produce records in their control at a specific time and place—usually at a court hearing or deposition. A case party or their legal representative may request a subpoena (subpoena duces tecum) from the court clerk where an action is pending. Subsequently, the subpoena must be served on the respective party or agency immediately. The state law mandates that subpoenaed parties must comply within 10 days.

How to Look Up Arrest Records Online in Mississippi

Mississippi residents can look up arrest records online via the following options:

• The Courts
  The Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) System maintains records of criminal case proceedings, which might include arrest information. To view records on the system, inquirers must provide case identifiers like the case party's name or number. The platform requires users to pay a $10 registration fee along with a $0.20 per-page viewing fee.
• The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MS DPS)
  Unlike the MEC, the Mississippi DPS maintains an online statewide request system for background checks. Only the record subject can use the platform to locate arrest records. Note that each inquiry costs $32 and may take up to 30 business days to fulfill an order for a record request.
• Third-party websites
  Third-party websites offer online access to arrest records in Mississippi. These sites often allow name- or location-based inquiries for arrest records. Most third-party sites will only release limited arrest data to free users, while premium users may access all available records related to the record subject. Users might pay a subscription fee or a one-time fee to access full records.
• County Inmate Search Tools
  Several county sheriff's offices provide inmate search tools that individuals can use to look up arrestees in a local jail. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department's inmate search tool is a typical example.

What is Included in Mississippi Arrest Records?

A typical Mississippi arrest record contains the following information:

• The arrestee's personal data, including:
  • Name
  • Age/Date of birth
  • Address
• Arrest Information, such as the following:
  • Arrest time, date, and location
  • Properties involved in the incident.
  • Narration of the incident
  • Arresting officer's information, like name and badge number.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Mississippi

Arrests are a permanent part of your public files unless they are expunged or sealed. All arrest events are maintained and accessible in publicly owned domains like the Mississippi Criminal Information Center. To expunge arrest records, interested parties must follow state-outlined rules and procedures. Note that some arrests are not eligible for expungement; traffic and sex-related crimes are generally not expungeable under state statutes.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Mississippi

Expungement is a legal process for removing specific information from publicly owned domains. Note that expunged records remain visible to specific, authorized entities like criminal justice agencies.

Arrestees can expunge arrest records by fulfilling these eligibility criteria:

• Arrest charges were dropped or dismissed.
• You have no prior conviction, and you were convicted of a misdemeanor. Note that this does not apply to traffic-related offenses.
• It has been more than 5 years since you completed a court sentence for a felony conviction.

Inquirers must follow these steps to expunge arrest records:

1. Check if you meet the eligibility criteria. You are generally eligible to expunge arrest records if:
   1. The arrest charges were dismissed or resolved through pretrial diversion.
   2. You have no prior conviction but were convicted of a misdemeanor offense.
   3. It has been more than five years since you completed a sentence for felony charges.
2. Gather all necessary documents, including an arrest report or court sentencing order.
3. Check if the county court's website has a downloadable form for filing expungement. In the absence of such forms, you should draft a petition that contains your personal data and reasons for filing for expungement.
4. Prepare an affidavit that shows you maintained good moral conduct, along with evidence that you fulfilled the court sentence. You can support the petition by getting affidavits from unrelated people within your community.
5. File the petition and supporting documents with the court clerk in the county where the case was heard. To expunge felony convictions, it is generally required to send a written notice to the district attorney before the petition hearing date.
6. Pay the applicable fees. Contact the court clerk to determine the required fees.
7. Make copies of the petition and supporting documents.

In Mississippi, it is relatively easier to expunge arrest records than criminal convictions. A person can only get one felony conviction, and the related arrest records are expunged in a lifetime.

Per Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71, the following felonies do not qualify for expungement:

• Violent crimes
• Voyeurism
• Felon in possession of a firearm
• Drug trafficking
• First-degree arson
• Witness intimidation
• Third or subsequent DUI
• Failure to register as a sex offender
• Embezzlement
• Abusing, neglecting, or exploiting a vulnerable person

Below are some cases that qualify for expungement in Mississippi:

1. Minor in possession: A person charged as a minor in possession of alcohol can ask the judge to expunge a conviction or resulting dismissal and discharge. A one-year waiting period applies after the dismissal, discharge, or conclusion of any sentence and payment of any fine. (Miss. Code Ann. § 67-3-70)
2. First DUI: A first-time DUI offender is eligible for expungement five years after completing the court sentence. However, you are ineligible to expunge the offense if you have a commercial driver's license.
   • Refused to submit a blood or breath test.
   • The blood alcohol content is 16% or above.
   • Have pending DUI charges.

   Note that you can only expunge one DUI offense pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30.

3. First-time misdemeanor convictions and arrests pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71.
4. Convictions for sentences that were completed in intervention courts. However, implied consent violations do not qualify for expungement. (Miss. Code § 9-23-23)
5. Felony charges, such as the following:
   • Bad check
   • Possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia
   • False Pretense
   • Larceny
   • Malicious mischief.
   • Felony shoplifting

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Mississippi?

Interested individuals can obtain information on recent arrests in Mississippi by contacting or visiting the local law enforcement agency that made an arrest. These agencies may provide online or offline access to recent arrest events. To access recent arrests, you may use online databases or lists on the agency's website. For instance, the Jones County Sheriff's Office has an inmate roster for recently arrested persons.

Are Mississippi Arrest Records Free?

Mississippi arrest records are mostly free on government-owned online search repositories. Inquirers only need to input relevant data to view these records. Note that the agencies may charge one-time or subscription fees if you want to download the record. In contrast, inquirers may freely view arrest records by visiting the agency that made the arrest. Note that the agency may charge fees for printing out the requested document.