Madison County Arrest Records

In Madison County, an arrest occurs when an individual is suspected of committing a crime. Peace officers are legally empowered to arrest such individuals with or without a warrant. The Detention Center Division of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office maintains a jail facility for all arrested parties. Interested parties may view arrest records by visiting the sheriff’s office at:

2941 U.S. Highway 51
Canton, MS 39046
Sheriff’s Department: (601) 859-2345
Detention Center: (601) 855-0739

On the other hand, you may find Madison County arrest records in other public records. For example, Madison County court records, such as criminal case records, may include arrest information. You must contact the district court clerk’s office to obtain the record. That said, criminal background checks and inmate records also contain arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Madison County?

According to the Mississippi Public Records Law, all public records, including arrest records, are public property. This means the general public can inspect, copy, or reproduce arrest records unless otherwise stated by law.

Notwithstanding, the Law restricts public access to specific records. Some exemptions by the Mississippi Public Records Law include:

• Driver's license and social security numbers
• Essential intelligence information for effective law enforcement or privacy protection
• Law enforcement records necessary for criminal justice or privacy
• Active law enforcement investigation
• Records that would endanger the life or safety of a public official or law enforcement personnel, confidential informants, or witnesses
• Unlisted phone number, home address, and any other private information of law enforcement officers, district attorneys, judicial officers, and their families

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per the Mississippi Public Records Law, the following components of a Madison County arrest record are available to the public:

• The offender’s first and last name
• Physical descriptors of the offender include sex, height, race, hair and eye color, weight, and complexion.
• Intake/ Booking Details: case number, intake date, intake number, time, arresting agency
• Charges filed against the arrestee
• Court of arraignment

Madison County Crime Rate

According to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reported 84 violent crime incidents in 2022. This figure represents a reduction of 19.23% compared to the 2021 figures (104).

Further analysis of violent offenses in 2022 showed that aggravated assault was the most commonly reported violent crime, with 92.86% (78). Others include robbery, which constituted 4.76% (4), and rape and homicide which accounted for 1.19% (1) each.

The NIBRS statistics also showed that the property crime rate in Madison County declined by 1.14% between 2021 (176) and 2022 (174). A breakdown of the crime type revealed that larceny theft was the most reported property crime, with 66.09% (115). Burglary and motor vehicle theft accounted for 25.86% (45) and 8.05% (14), respectively.

Madison County Arrest Statistics

According to NIBRS statistics, the Madison County Sheriff's Office made 1,999 arrests in 2022. Most of these arrests were for all other offenses except traffic violations, accounting for 60.68% (1,213). This was followed by driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, and aggravated assault, with 34.12% (682), 2.85% (57), and 1.30% (26), respectively. Others include illegal weapons possession and simple assault arrests, with 0.35% (7) and 0.30% (6), respectively.

Find Madison County Arrest Records

The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) online inmate search tool offers record seekers a convenient means of finding inmate records. This search engine allows users to look up inmates by name or ID number. Requesters can access the online search tool via the MDOC's website.

Individuals seeking Madison County arrest records may wish to perform their search on the Mississippi Department of Corrections Public Records Center portal. This platform allows visitors to request access to public records, including arrest records. By signing up for an account, users can submit requests online, stay up-to-date on their requests, and receive information through email.

The Mississippi Statewide Automated Victims Information and Notification (MS SAVIN) is an option for interested persons seeking inmate records at the state level. MS SAVIN is a confidential, cost-free, automated victim notification program that enables victims and survivors to obtain real-time information on state inmates domiciled in participating local and state detention centers.

In addition, requesters looking for arrests made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can find them using the Federal Inmate Locator or Online Detainee Locator System, respectively.

Free Arrest Record Search in Madison County

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office offers an online Jail Roster for individuals seeking publicly available arrest records. When visitors click on a profile in the Current Inmate Listing, they can view more details on an inmate. Some of the arrest data available include the birth date, physical descriptors, booking photograph, charges, bond information, and arraignment information of the inmate.

Alternatively, requesters may visit the Sheriff’s Office in person to inspect the Jail Roster or obtain certified copies of arrest records. While the inspection of non-confidential arrest records is usually free, obtaining copies of such records attracts a fee.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is located at:

2941 U.S. Highway 51
Canton, MS 39046
Phone: Sheriff’s Department - (601) 859-2345
Detention Center - (601) 855-0739

Get Madison County Criminal Records

Criminal records—criminal history or rap sheets—are official documents detailing an individual's criminal activities. These records typically include information about arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. Such records are maintained by various law enforcement agencies and are used for background checks, employment screening, and other purposes.

Applicants seeking to obtain criminal records in Madison County must follow these steps:

• Visit the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's Background Check Website.
• Applicants should study the criteria and instructions provided on the website for submitting a criminal background check request while on the page.
• Afterward, applicants must provide relevant information, such as their full name, address, city, state, and zip code. Applicants who prefer to receive results via fax must produce a fax number.
• The cost of each background request is $32.00. Applicants can pay with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express (credit or debit cards).
• Applicants must ensure all provided information is correct and complete to submit background check requests successfully.
• The Department of Public Safety may need up to 30 calendar days to complete background checks.
• Once the results are ready, the agency will mail criminal background checks to the provided addresses.
• Suppose the applicant chooses to receive the results via fax, and the transmission fails. In that case, the agency will mail the background check to the address provided.

Applicants with inquiries or needing further assistance may contact the Mississippi Department of Public Safety at (601) 933-26001.

Madison County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records are not synonymous; they serve different purposes, and their scope and content differ. Arrest records are generated every time an individual is accused of a crime and detained. These records only list incidents where someone is alleged to have broken the law. However, this does not mean they were convicted for the offense.

Arrest records will remain on a person’s record even if they are subsequently cleared of the charges against them. The Freedom of Information Act and other relevant laws usually protect individuals with arrest records by restricting public disclosure of these records because they represent accusations and not convictions. Arrest records that do not result in convictions will not appear on criminal history checks.

Criminal records are extensive official reports that lay out a person’s history with the criminal justice and judicial systems. These records document an individual’s arrests, court proceedings, convictions, and sentences.

Criminal records are subject to the Freedom of Information Act, meaning interested parties can access them for various purposes. Individuals with criminal records are more likely to have challenges getting hired or securing accommodation than those with arrest records. This is because criminal records usually involve severe crimes like robbery, rape, and murder, while arrest records are often associated with lesser offenses like traffic violations and petty theft.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Mississippi, arrest records will remain active on an offender’s record forever unless expunged. In other words, arrest records will continue to appear in criminal history checks unless the person starts the process of having the records removed legally.

Expunge Madison County Arrest Records

Applicants seeking the expungement of arrest information in Madison County must follow a specific process and comply with certain eligibility requirements.

In Madison County, applicants are eligible for expungement if they were victims of identity theft or mistaken identity, had their case dismissed or charges dropped, were declared not guilty by the courts, or were arrested for a misdemeanor but not charged within 12 months.

Furthermore, other individuals eligible to have their arrest records expunged include individuals who have had the courts dismiss their misdemeanor charges, first-time drug offenses dismissed after probation, or alcohol-related crimes before turning 21. Individuals pronounced guilty of misdemeanors in municipal court must wait two years. At the same time, those with first-time DUI offenses or felony convictions must wait five years after completing their sentences.

Process for Expungement

1. The applicant must write a personal affidavit explaining the request for expungement.
2. Then, they must provide two affidavits from community members attesting to their good character and reputation.
3. The applicant should submit the petition for expungement packet to the court clerk in the county where the applicant was charged.
4. The applicant must pay the $150 fee to file the petition.
5. The applicant must attend a court hearing where a judge will evaluate the petition. If the judge approves the petition, they will grant the expungement order.

Madison County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official document issued by a judge or magistrate granting peace officers the power to take someone suspected of committing a crime into custody. The document ensures that law enforcement officers follow due process during arrests.

A judge may issue an arrest warrant under the following circumstances:

• When there is evidence that someone has committed an unlawful act.
• If someone fails to appear in court as required.
• If someone fails to comply with the conditions of their probation or parole.

A typical Madison County arrest warrant consists of information such as the name of the individual to be arrested, a description of the alleged crime, the date and time of warrant issuance, the judge's signature, and specific instructions for law enforcement regarding the arrest.

Madison County Arrest Warrant Search

Requesters seeking active arrest warrants in Madison County can visit the County Sheriff’s website to access the list of wanted sex offenders occasionally published on the homepage. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety also publishes a list of Most Wanted Persons on its website. Visitors should click “Download Info” to access a detailed profile and charges against each suspect.

Do Madison County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Madison County arrest warrants have no expiry date. They remain active from the moment they are issued until the individual named in the warrant is apprehended or the court revokes them. This applies to both misdemeanor and felony warrants.