Copiah County Arrest Records

Arrest records are documents law enforcement agencies create after an arrest. An arrest may occur in Copiah County when there is reasonable suspicion that an individual has violated the law. This determination can be made by the court to release a warrant for the suspect's arrest, or by a law enforcement officer who observes the offense. The Copiah County Sheriff’s Department is the primary agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the county. The sheriff's duties include performing arrests and managing the county jail where arrestees may be held.

When a person is arrested and booked in Copiah, they may be brought before a court to face the charges. Curious persons can access details about such criminal court proceedings by inspecting Copiah County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Copiah County?

Yes, Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, members of the public are entitled to inspect arrest records held by a Copiah County law enforcement agency unless a specific exemption applies. An arrest record may be excluded from general disclosure under the following circumstances:

• The record pertains to a youth (juvenile).
• Disclosure could endanger a third party or interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
• The record contains the identity of a confidential informant.
• The record has been expunged by court order.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in Copiah County, Mississippi, includes basic, non-confidential information about the arrest, such as:

• Full name of the individual arrested
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Booking number
• Charges filed at the time of arrest
• Mugshot
• Bond or bail amount, if applicable

Copiah County Arrest Statistics

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for compiling arrest data from reporting law enforcement agencies in the state. In Copiah County, the Sheriff’s Department and Wesson Police Department are the reporting agencies. The Copiah Lincoln Community College Police Department, the Crystal Springs Police Department, and the Hazlehurst Police Department are non-reporting agencies.

The DPS publishes statewide and county-level arrest statistics on the Mississippi Crime Statistics Reporting Site. According to DPS, Copiah County reported 70 arrests in 2024. Of that number, 22 arrests were for crimes against persons, six were for crimes against property, 27 were for crimes against society, and 15 were for Group B offenses.

For a complete picture of arrest activity in Copiah County, interested persons may also contact the non-reporting agencies directly to request their respective arrest statistics.

Find Copiah County Arrest Records

A Copiah County arrest record can be obtained by querying the law enforcement department responsible for the arrest. To assist staff in locating a specific record, requesters should be prepared to provide identifying information about the arrestee, such as their full name, and, if possible, details about the arrest incident (e.g., date or location). Because the Copiah County Sheriff’s Office manages the county’s detention facility, individuals seeking jail records may also contact the Sheriff’s Office directly.

Researchers looking into state inmates can access the Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Search portal. An inmate can be located using their name or ID number.

Meanwhile, for federal inmate records, individuals can search the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. Search options include an inmate’s name or identification number (BOP, INS, FBI, or DCDC).

Free Arrest Record Search in Copiah County

While obtaining a copy of a Copiah County arrest record may require a fee, simply viewing the record may be free of charge. Alternatively, individuals can access third-party databases to search for Copiah arrest records. Access to such databases may be free or offered at a nominal cost, depending on the provider. However, these databases may not include all existing Copiah County arrest records and may contain outdated or inaccurate information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently, In Copiah County, arrest records typically remain on file indefinitely, as no specific state law, county ordinance, or court rule mandates the uniform and automatic disposal of these records. However, eligible individuals may petition for expungement under Mississippi law. An expungement, when granted, removes an arrest from public view.

Expunge Copiah County Arrest Records

Under Mississippi Law (Miss. Code Ann. § 99-15-59 and § 99-19-71), a person arrested in Copiah County can petition the court to expunge their record. Individuals generally qualify for an expungement when the arrest charges were not filed (within 12 months of the arrest), the charges were dismissed, or they were acquitted. However, if a person were found guilty of the arrest charges, they may only qualify for expungement under the following conditions:

• It is a first-time misdemeanor offense, and the conviction is not for a traffic violation.
• The conviction is for a qualifying felony offense, and at least five years have passed.

Individuals can expunge only one felony conviction (including all charges from the same event). The following felony crimes are not eligible for expungement in Mississippi:

• Crime of violence
• First-degree arson
• Trafficking in controlled substances
• 3rd, 4th, or subsequent DUI offenses
• Felon in possession of a firearm
• Failure to register as a sex offender
• Voyeurism
• Exploitation, abuse, or neglect of a vulnerable person
• Embezzlement
• Witness intimidation

An expungement petition is filed with the court that handled the case. During the expungement process, the court may require several documents and may need to conduct hearings. If the court determines that the petition follows the law and is not against the public's best interests, it may rule in favor of the petitioner. Once an arrest record is expunged in Copiah, it becomes inaccessible to the public, and the arrest is legally deemed not to have happened.

Copiah County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant, a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate, authorizes law enforcement to arrest a specific individual. It is typically issued at the start of a criminal proceeding, either upon the filing of a charging affidavit or an indictment.

When a law enforcement official files an affidavit that claims an individual has committed a crime, the sitting judge conducts a review. If the judge determines probable cause, they will release an arrest warrant or, in some cases, a summons. A summons is usually issued when the offense is bailable and there is no concern that the defendant will disobey the order to appear in court.

In Copiah County, the following information is typically contained in an arrest warrant:

• The complete name of the defendant (or a description if the name is unknown)
• The location of the defendant, if known
• The alleged offense of the defendant
• A directive to arrest the defendant and bring them before the judge
• Bail or release instructions, if applicable

Do Copiah County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Copiah County do not expire. However, a court can recall an arrest warrant, rendering it invalid. This means that, barring a court recall, arrest warrants remain enforceable until executed by law enforcement. The court may invalidate or quash a warrant if it was issued in error or the legal circumstances that necessitated its issuance have been resolved.