Jones County Arrest Records

Arrest records document key details surrounding an arrest. These records are created by law enforcement agencies when they perform an arrest. In Mississippi, arrests are typically carried out by law enforcement officers when there is reasonable suspicion that a person has or is committing a crime. However, private citizens may also make an arrest in certain situations, particularly involving felony offenses. When a private citizen executes an arrest, they are legally required to transfer custody of the arrestee to law enforcement as soon as possible.

Jones County operates two correctional facilities: the Adult Detention Facility (ADF), which houses adult offenders, and the Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF), for juvenile offenders. Both facilities are managed by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrest records are usually maintained by the arresting agency and the Sheriff’s Office at the local level, and the Mississippi Criminal Information Center at the state level. In addition, arrest information may also be included in Jones County court records. This happens when an arrestee faces trial, and the arrest record is used by the court to serve justice.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jones County?

Yes. Jones County arrest records are declared public under the Mississippi Public Records Act enacted in 1983. The Act establishes the public’s access to records held by government agencies (law enforcement departments inclusive). Members of the public have access to Jones County arrest records except for privileged records. A Privileged record is one exempted from public disclosure under the Public Records Act. The following records are generally exempt from public disclosure:

• The identity of confidential informants
• The identity of individuals under investigation
• Private information of law enforcement officers
• Personal information of crime victims
• Investigative reports

A law enforcement department may still disclose non-confidential portions of a privileged arrest record if requested. The Mississippi Ethics Commission ensures that public bodies comply with the Public Records Act. Requesters who believe they were unjustly denied access to a record can file a complaint with the agency.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information are non-confidential contents of arrest records in Jones County:

• The name, age, race, gender, and address of the person named on the record
• The arresting agency
• The arrest charges
• Booking number, date and time
• Mugshot
• Court case number
• Bail amount

Jones County Arrest Statistics

All law enforcement agencies in Jones County are required to report arrests they perform to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS compiles the data received from Jones County and other Mississippi Counties and makes it publicly available on the Reporting Site. Data on the site is updated daily to ensure researchers have access to the most recent data.

In 2023, law enforcement agencies reported a total of 1,335 arrests, a decrease from 1740 arrests in the previous year. Of these, 671 arrests were for Group A offenses, with property crimes leading at 250 arrests, followed by crimes against persons (211) and crimes against society (210). The remaining 664 arrests were for Group B offenses, with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) accounting for the highest number at 170 arrests.

Find Jones County Arrest Records

Local law enforcement agencies in Jones County are the primary custodians of arrest records. To obtain a record, individuals can contact the department that performed the arrest. If uncertain of the agency holding the record, the sheriff's office may be able to help. Information on persons presently detained in the county jail is available on the Sheriff’s Current Inmates page. Details on those released within the past 48 hours can be found on the 48-Hour Release page.

On a state level, inmates are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Corrections (DOC). Inquirers can search for an inmate in a state correctional facility on the DOC Inmate Search portal using the inmate’s name or ID. A search provides detailed information about the inmate, including their current location, sentence duration, and tentative release date.

An inmate’s record not found in local or state databases may be that of a federally incarcerated person. The records of federal prisoners are maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The public can access these records using the BOP’s Inmate Locator. A search can be conducted on the portal using a name, BOP, INS, FBI, or DCDC number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Jones County

The arrest records of detainees in the county detention center or people released within 48 hours can be accessed for free on the Sheriff’s website. Individuals seeking remote access to arrest records of individuals not detained in jail or recently released may opt for third-party resources. These resources can provide access to Jones County's non-confidential arrest records. Depending on the resource used, some arrest information may be disclosed for free after a search is conducted. Researchers should bear in mind that arrest records obtained from third-party sources are unofficial copies and should not be used for official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Jones County, Mississippi, arrests typically remain permanently on a person’s criminal record unless a court orders their expungement. To have an arrest record expunged, the individual must file a petition for expunction with the appropriate court. However, this option is only available for specific types of arrests as Mississippi law outlines. An arrest’s eligibility generally depends on the nature of the offense and sentence completion if any.

Expunge Jones County Arrest Records

An arrest expungement removes an arrest from a person’s criminal record. Several reasons exist for which an individual may be seeking the expungement of their arrest records including employment and licensing. Expungement in Jones County is governed by Section 99-17-71 of Mississippi statutes. The following individuals are qualified to petition the court to expunge their records:

• An individual who was arrested had the charges dismissed, dropped, or was found not guilty in court
• A first-time offender convicted of a misdemeanor excluding traffic violations
• An individual convicted of an eligible felony offense and five years have passed since the completion of the terms of their sentence

Individuals convicted of the following felony offenses cannot file for expungement of the record:

• Violent felonies
• First-degree arson
• Drug trafficking
• A third or more DUI violation (from the same individual)
• A felony offense while in possession of a firearm
• Failure to register as a sex offender
• Intimidating a witness
• Voyeurism
• Embezzlement
• Abuse or exploitation of vulnerable persons

Upon filing a petition for expungement, the individual must provide the district attorney with a written notice at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing. During the hearing, the court will evaluate whether the petitioner has been rehabilitated from the offense. If the court finds insufficient evidence of rehabilitation, it may deny the petition. According to Mississippi law, the court must specify the reasons for the denial. If the petition is granted, the arrest record is expunged and ceases to be a public record. However, the Mississippi Criminal Information Center retains the record for the sole purpose of determining first-offender status in future proceedings. A petition for expungement made by an individual costs $150.

Jones County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal authorization for law enforcement to detain a person suspected of committing a crime. The process for issuing an arrest warrant begins when a police officer or private citizen submits a charging affidavit to the court. This affidavit outlines the alleged offense and includes supporting evidence. A judge then reviews the affidavit to determine whether probable cause exists. If probable cause is found, the judge may issue an arrest warrant. For bailable offenses, the judge may in their discretion issue a summons if there is no substantial reason to believe the defendant will disregard the summons.

The following information is usually found in an arrest warrant:

• The defendant’s name
• The name or description of the offense committed
• The date of issuance
• The county of issuance
• The name, title, and signature of the issuing judge

To find active warrants in Jones County individuals may check with the Sheriff’s Office in person or browse through its Most Wanted list.

Do Jones County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants in Jones County do not expire until they have been executed. The only instance where a warrant may no longer be executable is when it is recalled and quashed by the court. A recall generally happens when the warrant is found to be defective. However, In most cases, defective warrants are recalled to be corrected and then reissued. A warrant is permanently quashed only if the court determines that the arrest is no longer necessary.