Grenada County Arrest Records

In Grenada County, officers are authorized to make an arrest when they have a warrant for an individual's arrest. They may also arrest when they have probable cause to believe an individual has committed or is about to commit a crime. Arrest records describe the circumstances of an arrest, identify the individual, and list any property or contraband seized from them. An arrest by itself does not prove an individual is guilty. Only a court conviction determines guilt.

After booking, the suspect is typically detained in the Grenada County Jail until they are released on bail, the charges against them are dropped, or the court decides their case. The jail also holds individuals serving short sentences. Law enforcement agencies create and share arrest records. When a case proceeds to court, arrest information becomes part of the Grenada County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Grenada County?

Generally, Grenada County arrest records are deemed public. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, the public may access documents generated by government agencies while carrying out their duties. The law permits the public to view or obtain copies of arrest records from their custodians.

For instance, interested parties may obtain arrest records from the office of the Grenada County sheriff by visiting during office hours:

Grenada County Sheriff's Office
35 Doak Street Grenada,
Mississippi 38901
Phone: (662) 226-2722

However, despite the access granted by the Public Records Act, sensitive portions of public records that may violate individuals' privacy or safety rights are redacted. Restricted records exempt from public disclosure include:

• Sealed or expunged records
• Information about active investigations
• Arrest records that may endanger the lives of officers
• Personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank details
• Medical records
• Juvenile records

Grenada County Arrest Statistics

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety compiles a report on arrest statistics annually. According to statewide reports from the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for February 2024, there were 21,463 individuals incarcerated and 38,014 on probation or parole.

In 2022, the overall crime rate in Grenada County was 1,622 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate was 1,321 per 100,000 residents. The average daily population of the Grenada County jail was 210, and the most common causes of arrests in the county were drug abuse violations, driving under the influence, simple assault, and larceny.

Find Grenada County Arrest Records

The county sheriff's office is the main law enforcement agency in Grenada County. Interested parties may access arrest records through the county sheriff's office. Different agencies often record their account of the same information; therefore, arrest records may be available as part of other public records. For example, inmate records list an individual's details, charges, bond amount, arrest date, and the arresting agency.

In addition, the public may look up inmate records on official online databases. The Mississippi Department of Corrections provides an online portal where record seekers may find inmates detained in state correctional facilities. They may search with the individual's name or MDOC ID. The Federal Bureau of Prisons also provides a portal where requesters may look up inmate records using their first name and last name or prison ID number.

Grenada County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Grenada County, arrest records and criminal records are not the same. They are different in content, custodians, and legal implications. Information contained in arrest records mostly relates to arrests made within the county. These include the arrestee's name, physical description, criminal charges, date and location of arrest, name of the arresting agency, and mugshot. On the other hand, criminal records contain information about an individual's criminal history and interactions with law enforcement. Information contained in criminal records includes arrest, court, and incarceration details.

Arrest records are primarily in the custody of local law enforcement agencies. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety manages criminal records. It collects case details from the courts, arresting agencies, and the prosecutor's office to create these records.

Arrest records do not indicate whether the subject was guilty or convicted of the crime. Therefore, they do not lead to stigma or discrimination. Criminal records, on the other hand, indicate that the court convicted the subject of criminal activity. Serious criminal convictions, especially sexual offence convictions, trigger a list of collateral consequences. These include exclusion from firearms possession and working in schools or child care environments.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests in Granada County stay permanently on record except they are expunged. However, factors such as the statute of limitations on specific crimes may affect how long an arrest remains on the record. Arrestees who are not convicted of any wrongdoing may be eligible to have their arrest records expunged. However, eligibility depends on factors such as the severity of the crime and the individual's criminal history.

Grenada County Arrest Warrants

Grenada County arrest warrants are legal documents that authorize law enforcement agents to arrest individuals suspected of criminal activity. A judge may issue an arrest warrant after receiving an affidavit from a law enforcement officer. The affidavit must contain evidence supporting probable cause that the suspect committed a crime.

Under Mississippi Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.2, an arrest warrant must include:

• The name of the defendant
• A physical description, including tattoos, scars, or other markings
• The criminal charge and statute violated
• The name of the issuing official
• The date the warrant was issued
• The court document number

Do Grenada County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Under the law in Grenada County, Mississippi, an arrest warrant has no expiration date. Once duly signed by a judge, an arrest warrant remains valid until the individual is taken into custody or the court withdraws it. It is unwise to ignore an outstanding warrant. Under Mississippi Code § 99-3-7(2), law enforcement officers are authorized to execute outstanding warrants. As long as the warrant is active, the individual may be arrested on sight and may face additional penalties for failing to appear.

Expunge Grenada County Arrest Records

A non-conviction arrest record may be expunged when the court drops the charges against the individual or finds them not guilty. Common reasons for this include acquittal at trial, case dismissal, prosecutor's nolle prosequi, and grand jury "no bill". These outcomes permit the record owner to petition to expunge their arrest record.

Eligible convictions may also be expunged. These include first-offense misdemeanors, a single qualifying non-violent felony following the mandatory 5-year waiting period, and completion of all the terms of the sentence. Also, a first-time DUI offense may qualify for expungement if the driver did not hold a commercial license and the 5-year waiting period has elapsed without any further incidents.

When the court grants expungement to an individual, the public-facing docket entry disappears, court files related to the incident are sealed and inaccessible to the public. However, law enforcement agencies and certain licensing boards still retain access to the sealed files.

To get their records expunged, record holders should:

• Get proof of their case outcome from the Clerk of Court
• Draft a petition and a proposed order
• File both documents with the clerk and pay the $150 filing fee
• For felonies, record owners should send the district attorney a written notice at least 10 days before their hearing
• Submit an affidavit of their post-conviction conduct and two character affidavits from unrelated community members.