DeSoto County Arrest Records

Arrest records in DeSoto County refer to information generated during arrest events. Law enforcement officers typically apprehend people who are suspected of committing a crime. In some instances, officers conduct arrests to prevent crimes from happening. Officers may also temporarily hold arrested persons in the county jail until they fulfill the bail conditions, are released, or are charged in court.

DeSoto County's law enforcement agency generates and maintains arrest records. Record seekers may find DeSoto County arrest records at the county sheriff's office. Arrest records are also accessible in related public documents. DeSoto County court records are a typical example since they contain arrest information. Inmate records and criminal records also contain arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in DeSoto County?

The Mississippi Public Records Act classifies arrest records as public documents. Hence, public members may request and obtain arrest records from designated custodial agencies. The state also requires government agencies to release the records to the public.

Nevertheless, some arrest records are not open to the public. The law typically restricts access to records, which, if disclosed, will violate an individual's right to security and privacy. For example, arrest records that contain an officer's personal information are not part of public records. Other exempt arrest records in DeSoto County include the following:

• Arrest information that, when disclosed, will impede an ongoing investigation or prosecution.
• Arrest information that is sealed or expunged under court orders.
• Arrest records that may endanger the lives of law enforcement officers
• Crime victims’ personal information, including victim impact statements
• Documents that contain investigative techniques or processes.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per MS § 25-61-3(e), DeSoto arrest records will contain the following public information:

• The arrestee's name and physical identifying features like height, eye color, race, and gender.
• The arrest charges
• Arrest date and location
• Description of the alleged offense
• Properties involved in the arrest

In DeSoto County, non-public arrest records are only accessible to persons with a legal right to obtain the records. Crime victims’ may obtain arrest data related to their case.

DeSoto County Crime Rate

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MsDPS) documents all crime incidents in DeSoto County. According to the agency's report, in 2023, the county recorded 7,344 crimes. The total crime rate includes 304 violent crimes, 4,307 property crimes, and 3,033 crimes against society. Per the report, aggravated assaults, drug-related offenses, and larceny thefts were the most recurring crimes.

DeSoto County Arrest Statistics

The MSDPS also maintains arrest reports collated by the state counties' law enforcement agencies. According to the agency's report, DeSoto County documented 4,594 arrests in 2023.

In contrast, Mississippi’s Department of Corrections maintains inmate statistics and reports. While there are no country-specific inmate statistics for DeSoto County, the state recorded a total of 22,093 inmates as of February 2024

Find DeSoto County Arrest Records

Record seekers may find arrest information in inmate records. The records typically contain arrest information, such as the arrestee's name, offense, and booking date. That being said, multiple government agencies are responsible for maintaining inmate records. At the state level, the Mississippi Department of Corrections has an online search system for all persons detained in the county jail. Record seekers only need to input the offender's name to bring up the record.

Record seekers may find DeSoto's arrest information in the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate database. To obtain records, you only need to input the offender's name or prison number.

The DeSoto County sheriff's office allows in-person requests for arrest records. To obtain Arrest records, you must visit the county sheriff during business hours at:

3091 Industrial Drive West
Hernando, MS 38632
Phone: (662) 469-8500

Free Arrest Record Search in DeSoto County

Record seekers may access arrest records for free through official search websites. Government agencies provide access to the records via these websites:

• The Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate database
• Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator

Alternatively, record seekers may also freely access arrest records from third-party search sites. The sites may maintain arrest records as part of criminal records or inmate information.

Get DeSoto County Criminal Records

DeSoto County's criminal records convey information pertaining to an individual's criminal history. Also referred to as a rap sheet, the record contains data such as court conviction records, inmate data, and arrest information.

Record seekers will find DeSoto County criminal records at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's Criminal Information Center. As the custodian of criminal records, the agency maintains an online request system via which requesters may obtain the records.

Note that only the record subject may use the request portal. That being said, record subjects using the portal must provide information such as their social security number, full name, birth date, and sex. Next, the requester must pay a $32 processing fee and include their mailing address. The agency may take up to 30 days to find the record and send it to the provided address.

Third-party requesters may also obtain criminal records on the portal. However, they must upload a signed authorization form from the record subject.

DeSoto County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In DeSoto County, there are distinct differences between arrest records and criminal records. Although they both contain crime-related data, the records may differ in terms of their creation process, custodial agency, and content. For instance, law enforcement entities generate arrest records by documenting arrest events. In contrast, multiple agencies create arrest records. The agencies, such as the court and law enforcement entities, contribute data to build criminal records.

Record seekers will primarily find arrest records at law enforcement agencies, courts, and inmate facilities. However, only the state's Department of Public Safety maintains criminal records.

In terms of content, you will only find arrest-related data in arrest records. However, criminal records are a compilation of different public data, like court documents and inmate information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In DeSoto County, arrest records will remain on your file until you expunge or seal them. There are set procedures for expunging arrest records in the county.

Expunge DeSoto County Arrest Records

Expungement refers to the removal of documents from public view. In DeSoto County, you may expunge your arrest records by filing a petition with the county court. If the court approves the request, it will issue an expungement order to all agencies holding the record. The agencies will expunge the records after receiving the order. Note that the state's Criminal Information Center and the court will still retain the expunged arrest record.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in DeSoto County?

Under MS Sec. 99-19-71, you are legally eligible to expunge DeSoto County arrest records if:

• The arrest charges were dismissed
• You have a felony conviction and have waited for five years after the sentence was completed.
• You were arrested, but the case was dismissed.
• You are a first-time offender who was convicted of a misdemeanor charge, except for traffic violations.

Which arrest records are not eligible for expungement in DeSoto County?

You are not eligible for expungement if arrested or convicted for these offenses:

• Arson in the first degree (Sections 97-17-1 and 97-17-3);
• Voyeurism;
• Embezzlement as listed in Sections 97-11-25 and 97-23-19;
• Third or more driving under the influence (DUI) convictions;
• Failure to register as a sex offender; or
• Firearms possession, as provided in Section 97-37-5;
• Trafficking in controlled substances;
• Violent crimes, as listed under Section 97-3-2;
• Witness intimidation, according to Section 97-9-113;
• Neglect or abuse of vulnerable persons Section 43-47-19

How can I expunge arrest records in DeSoto County?

Eligible persons may be able to expunge DeSoto County arrest records through the following general steps:

1. Fill out and print an expungement request form
2. Attach a $150 filing fee to the completed form and send it to the DeSoto County municipal court at:
   8889 Northwest Drive
   Southaven, MS 38671
   Phone: (662) 393-7042
3. For arrest charges that led to convictions, you must file the petition with the court that heard the case.

Next, the court will set a hearing date to determine if you are eligible to expunge your record:

Within ten days before the hearing date, you must give a written notice to DeSoto County's district attorney. This notifies the DA of the expungement request and enables them to raise an objection.

The court will review the petition request and determine if you are eligible for expunction. If there are no objections, the court will issue an expungement order to all agencies holding the record. It's recommended to get and keep a copy of the order from the county clerk.

DeSoto County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants authorize a suspected offender's arrest. In DeSoto County, court judges will issue arrest warrants if they receive a complaint or an affidavit from law enforcement officers. The complaint must provide evidence of the individual's involvement in the crime.

Per Miss. R. Crim. P. 3.2, DeSoto County arrest warrants may provide information on the following details:

• The record subject's full name, aliases, and identifying features like race, height, eye color, and gender.
• A statement directing that the record subject must be arrested and brought before the court judge
• The court official's name and signature

DeSoto County Arrest Warrant Search

In DeSoto County, you may search arrest warrants by calling the county sheriff's office at (662) 429-1470. You may also inquire in person by visiting the sheriff's warrant division at:

3091 Industrial Drive West
Hernando, MS 38632.

Do DeSoto County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in DeSoto County do not expire. Instead, the warrants remain after the statute of limitation for the offense has elapsed.