Jackson County Arrest Records

In Jackson County, police departments may arrest persons who commit or are suspected of criminal activities and detain them until a court hearing. After an arrest, the arresting officer retrieves certain information from the suspect and creates an arrest record under the suspect's name. This arrest record typically contains information about the suspect, the events surrounding the arrest, and the arresting agency. Persons arrested in Jackson County are typically held and booked in the Adult Detention Center.

A Jackson County arrest record is a written narrative about an alleged criminal act created by the law enforcement agency in charge. The Sheriff's office and other local police departments manage arrest records created within their localities. However, because of their significance to the judicial process, arrest records, and related information may also be embedded in Jackson County Court records. Whilst arrest records can aid investigation and other legal processes, they cannot be used to establish guilt.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jackson County?

Yes. Per Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 et seq, otherwise known as the Mississippi Public Records Act, members of the public may request access to arrest records from the appropriate custodian. However, such records are publicly available if they are not involved in an active investigation and are devoid of sensitive information.

§ 25-61-5 of the Mississippi annotated codes contain the prohibitions and restrictions guiding public access to arrest records. Per state laws, the following Jackson County arrest records and information are exempt from public disclosure:

• Arrest records of minors or juveniles
• Arrest records and information about active investigations and pending litigations
• Records containing medical reports and diagnosis
• Records of child abuse, negligence, and sexual assaults
• Personal information and sensitive data such as a social security number or license number
• Sealed or expunged arrest records
• Records tagged confidential or restricted from public disclosure by other statutes
• Arrest information that may reveal details about a witness/victim or threaten public peace and safety

Requestors may, however, be granted access to these restricted records if they provide a court order or if state laws authorize them. Furthermore, individuals without authorization who believe they have legitimate reasons for requesting an exempt record may subpoena it.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A typical Jackson County arrest record that is open to the public contains the following:

• Basic suspect's information like the arrestee's name, address, and birth date
• Physical descriptions and characteristics of the arrestee
• Arrest information including the date, time, and location of the arrest
• A narration of the arrest events and the alleged offense
• A list of the possessions retrieved from the arrestee
• Arresting officer/agency information, including name, badge number, and date/time of reporting

Jackson County Crime Rate

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety maintains a database that publishes annual crime statistics for the state's counties. According to the reports published on the website, the total number of crimes reported for Jackson County in 2023 was 2,909. 825 Society Crimes were reported, which consisted of drug offenses, weapon offenses, gambling offenses, prostitution, pornography/obscene material use, and animal cruelty.

Violent Crimes totaled 136, including murders, non-consensual sex offenses, robberies, and aggravated Assaults. For Property crimes, the reported crimes were 1,948, consisting of robbery, burglary, larceny/theft, fraud, embezzlement, extortion/blackmail, motor Vehicle theft, and arson. Based on the reports, the most prevalent crimes for each category in Jackson County for 2023 were larceny(1,276), drug offenses(744), and aggravated assaults (78).

Jackson County Arrest Statistics

In 2023, the total number of arrests reported through the State's Department of Public Safety was 378. Society crimes totaled 334, while violent crimes accounted for 44 of the total arrests. Compared to data published in 2022, arrests for violent crimes declined by 32.31%, while the number of arrests recorded under society crimes decreased by 25.68%. Drug offenses had the most arrests in 2023, with a total of 309.

Find Jackson County Arrest Records

Jackson County Sheriff's Office and police departments manage arrest records created in the county. To request copies of arrest records from the Sheriff's office, inquirers may use the contact information below:

Jackson County Sheriff's Department
3104 Magnolia Street,
Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone: (228) 769-3063
Fax: (228) 769-6168

The Criminal Information Center(CIC) of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety may also be queried for arrest records and information of Jackson County residents. The CIC is the state custodian of criminal and arrest information. Interested persons may visit the CIC's office in person or send electronic requests for arrest records. Accessing the desired arrest records online may also be possible by utilizing the search tools provided by the state or local record custodians. In some cases, arrests are conducted by federal law enforcement agencies who then produce and manage such arrest records. To look up Jackson County arrest records at the federal level, inquirers may search at the physical locations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These agencies mostly have searchable databases on their official websites for public access to arrest records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Jackson County

Mississippi laws grant public access to arrest records unless otherwise stated. Residents of Jackson County may access arrest records free of charge or at a nominal cost from the Sheriff's office. Interested persons may inspect arrest records at no cost by visiting the Sheriff's office or other record custodians within work hours. Nonetheless, requesting copies of the inspected records usually attract a nominal fee decided by the record custodian.

Interested persons may access arrest and inmate information online via the Jackson County Sheriff's Inmate Lookup tool or the Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. These online search tools are available on the official websites of these agencies and require the user to input the arrestee's first/last name or an ID number.

Similarly, third-party websites are alternatives for obtaining Jackson County arrest records free of charge.

Third-party websites, also known as aggregators, are commercial sites owned by independent record providers. They make basic and limited arrest information available for free to interested members of the public. However, persons who desire comprehensive arrest reports and records may be required to register an account and pay the subscription fees.

Get Jackson County Criminal Records

A Jackson County Criminal Record is an official document that contains details of an individual's criminal activities within the county or state. It typically discloses information about all arrests, charges, convictions and offenses filed under the subject's name. The Criminal Investigation Department of the Sheriff's Office maintains criminal records at the county level. At the same time, the Criminal Information Center of the State Department of Public Safety is the state repository for criminal records.

The Sheriff's office performs limited background checks for residents of the county. To request Jackson County criminal records from the Sheriff's office, interested persons may submit requests in person or via mail to:

Criminal Investigation Department
Jackson County Sheriff's Office
3104 Magnolia Street,
Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone: (228) 769-3065
Fax: (228) 769-3395

To request copies of Criminal records from the State's Department of Public Safety, interested persons may fill out a Release Background Authorization Form and submit, alongside a money order of $32, a copy of a valid State ID card or Driver's license to:

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal Information
Center/Background Checks
3891 Highway 468 West Pearl,
MS 39208

Record subjects may request their criminal records from third parties. In such cases, the requestor must provide the mailing address and name of the authorized recipient on the signed notarized request form.

The Mississippi Department of Health(MDH) processes background checks for prospective licensed childcare or healthcare facility employees. To obtain copies of criminal history records from the MDH, requestors are to submit a completed Fingerprint Application Information Form for LiveScan in person or via mail to the Criminal History Record Check Division's office at 143B LeFleur's Square, Jackson, MS 39211, within regular hours. The background check fee of $50 is payable by check, money order, or online via the approved payment portal. Requesting a replacement or extra copies of a background check costs $15 per copy.

The courts in Jackson County preserve criminal files and records. Concerned persons may query the court of jurisdiction to retrieve criminal records. Similarly, the Mississippi Electronic Courts System (MEC) may provide information about the criminal records of Jackson County residents. The portal charges an annual fee of $10 and $.20 per page for each search. The subject's name is the primary search requirement for retrieving criminal records.

Jackson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Jackson County arrest records provide specific details about an arrest. They focus on the events surrounding a particular arrest and provide information from the time of the arrest to the suspect's first arraignment or release on bail. On the other hand, criminal records are more comprehensive as they give detailed accounts of all arrests, charges, and convictions filed under an individual's name.

An Arrest record may not be substantial proof of a suspect's guilt since it does not contain the case disposition. It may only be used as a base for further criminal proceedings. However, criminal records contain information proving the record subject's involvement in the alleged crime. Furthermore, Jackson County arrest records are usually maintained at the county level by the sheriffs and police departments, while criminal records are statewide and preserved by the State's Department of Public Safety.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely, unless expunged. Irrespective of the crime that necessitated an arrest,

Jackson County arrest records, once created and filed with the Mississippi CIC, will stay permanently on the subject's record and reflect in their criminal history records. State laws, however, have provisions for arrest records to be sealed or expunged.

Expunge Jackson County Arrest Records

Mississippi State laws permit residents of Jackson County to petition a court for the expungement or sealing of certain arrest records. Expungement or sealing does not mean the physical destruction of the created records; it only makes such records unavailable to the public and persons with the required authorization.

Those who fall under the categories listed below may file a petition to have their arrest records expunged:

• Persons arrested but released subsequently (Mississippi Code § 99–19–71). Persons under this category will qualify for expungement if,

  • The charges were dropped, or the case was dismissed.
  • The suspect was found not guilty of the charge(s)
  • There was no case disposition.

• Persons arrested and issued a citation or detained for committing a misdemeanor (Mississippi Code § 99–15–59). Arrest records in this category will be eligible if,

  • No charges were filed within a year after the arrest.
  • Filed charges were dismissed.

• Arrestees who participated in a pretrial program (Mississippi Code §99–15–123). To qualify for an intervention/expunction,

  • The charges filed must not be for a violent crime such as manslaughter.
  • The offense must not be related to substance trafficking.

Concerned persons eligible for an expungement or sealing may file a petition with the court that decided the case or a court of jurisdiction. The total fee required to file an expungement per § 99-19-72 is $150. This prescribed fee includes the $100 for the Judicial System Operation Fund, $40 for the District Attorneys Operation Fund, and the $10 retained by the court clerk for administrative purposes.

Once the petition is filed, the court reviews it and sets a hearing date. The petitioner is expected to notify the District attorney of the petition at least ten days before the hearing date. After the hearing, if the petition is granted, the court issues an order mandating the record custodian to expunge or seal the affected records. Such records become inaccessible to the public, and the status of the record subject must be kept up before the arrest or indictment is restored.

Jackson County Arrest Warrants

A Jackson County arrest warrant is a legal order or writ that authorizes a law enforcement agency to arrest and detain the person(s) named on it. In Mississippi, the judges or magistrates issue warrants while the sheriffs and other police departments enforce the issued warrants.

A judge or magistrate can only issue a warrant based on established probable cause to avoid the infringement of the named individual's privacy and constitutional rights. Hence, an enforcement agency requesting a warrant must perform due diligence in investigating and obtaining substantial evidence to establish probable cause. Per Mississippi Criminal Rule 3.2, arrest warrants issued in Jackson County generally include the following information:

• The suspect's full name or aliases/description if the name is unknown
• The current address and location of the suspect if known
• The alleged crime or offense necessitating the arrest
• A command that the suspect be arrested and made to appear before the issuing judge or a judge with jurisdiction to hear the case
• If the offense is bailable, the warrant may state that the suspect is permitted to be released on personal recognizance (Rule 8.4(a))
• Bail/ bond amount prescribed by the issuing judge where applicable

Jackson County Arrest Warrant Search

Under State laws, Jackson County arrest warrants are considered public records and may be requested by interested members of the public. To begin a search for arrest warrants issued in Jackson County, concerned persons may query the Sheriff's office and other police departments in person or send electronic requests.

The courthouses issuing warrants in Jackson County also keep records of the issued warrants; hence, requestors may visit the appropriate courthouse to inspect and copy publicly available arrest warrants. In addition, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety maintains a searchable website that contains information about most wanted persons. Residents of Jackson County may search this online portal to obtain information about outstanding arrest warrants issued in Jackson County.

Do Jackson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants issued by the judges in Jackson County typically remain active until executed. An arrest warrant will be executed once the named individual is arrested. Therefore, an arrest warrant remains active until the suspect is apprehended and brought before the issuing judge or bail is posted. However, if certain legal conditions are met, the issuing court may decide to recall or quash the issued warrant.