Marion County Arrest Records

In Marion County, a law enforcement officer may arrest an individual when they commit a crime or disturb the peace. They can also arrest an individual for a felony if they have reliable information and reasonable grounds to suspect that an individual is responsible for the felony. An officer may also effect an arrest under MS Code § 99-3-7 in the event that a judge signs an arrest warrant for an individual.

An arrest record is a legal document that indicates that an individual was arrested by law enforcement officers. It provides information about the circumstances surrounding the arrest, the charges, conditions for their release, and the arresting agency. Arrest records are public, and interested parties may access them through the Sheriff's Office. Individuals may also find arrest information in Marion County court records and the criminal records maintained by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's Criminal Information Center (CIC).

Are Arrest Records Public in Marion County?

Yes. Pursuant to the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, records generated and maintained by government agencies in the course of their duties are deemed public records. The law mandates that public agencies make all records accessible to the public for copying and inspection upon request. Should they have any reason to be unable to make them available, they should communicate with the individual at the earliest opportunity.

Although Marion County arrest records are generally public, there are some exceptions. For instance, records are confidential when disclosure interferes with ongoing investigations. Similarly, records containing juvenile records, individuals' medical records, social security numbers, and bank account details are not accessible to the public.

Marion County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2022 report from the Marion County sheriff's office, the crime rate in Marion County was 17.97 per 1,000 residents. The average daily population of the county jail was 394. For property crimes, the rate was 23 per 1,000 residents. The most frequent arrests for property crimes were burglary, with 31 cases. In total, there were 116 property crimes and 43 reported aggravated assaults.

Find Marion County Arrest Records

Finding arrest records in Marion County depends on who made the arrest and the facility where the individual is held in custody. The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) has an online inmate search tool where individuals may search for inmates in any MDOC facility. Users may look them up by name or MDOC number to see their profiles. The information provided includes the inmate's name, sex, date of birth, mugshot, and description or alias.

Alternatively, record seekers may leverage the inmate locator the Federal Bureau of Prisons provides. They may search by name or inmate number. To get information on county-specific arrests, requesters may contact the arresting agency or the Marion County Sheriff's Department at:

Marion County Sheriff's Office
219 Broad St,
Columbia, Mississippi 39429
Phone: (601) 736-5051

Marion County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Marion County, an arrest record is generated the first time an individual is arrested and fingerprinted. Subsequently, the record is updated with each new incident. While arrest and criminal records are connected and maintained by criminal justice agencies, they differ.

The main difference lies in the focus and extent of information they cover. Arrest records specifically cover the arrest incident, giving information surrounding the offense, arrest procedure, and the individual in question. In contrast, criminal records focus on an individual's criminal history within a particular jurisdiction's boundaries and contain information from various criminal justice agencies. As such, criminal records often contain information about arrests, prosecution, and conviction.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Marion County, an arrest record may remain on an individual's record as part of their criminal records for the rest of their life. Even if the charges were dismissed or the suspect was found not guilty at trial, the records persist and would show up whenever a background check is done on the individual by law enforcement, potential employers, schools, and other persons or organizations. However, after the specified waiting period has elapsed, an individual may petition the court for expungement.

Marion County Arrest Warrants

In Marion County, under Mississippi Rules for Criminal Procedure Miss. R. Crim. P. 3.1, an arrest warrant is issued by a judge when they believe there is probable cause that an individual committed a crime. This document instructs law enforcement officers to arrest the individual. The warrant must have the suspect's full name and descriptive features such as tattoos, eye color, and ethnicity. It should also include the signature of the issuing judge, arrest date and location, a command to arrest, and the conditions for releasing the suspect.

Do Marion County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Marion County do not expire or have a statute of limitations. Once a complaint is filed with affidavits and a warrant is issued, it stays active until law enforcement officers serve it, the court cancels it, or the individual named in it dies.

When an individual discovers an arrest warrant in their name, the following action should be to contact an attorney. Dealing with it is vital because if they do nothing, they risk getting arrested anytime they are stopped by law enforcement agents.

Expunge Marion County Arrest Records

Expunging an arrest record or some convictions in Marion County implies that the public cannot access the records. Although the courts and government agencies such as the Mississippi Criminal Information Center and the District Attorney's Office may keep case records, they would be unavailable to the public.

In Marion County, individuals may expunge an arrest record if they were not found guilty. In addition, under the Mississippi Code § 99-19-71, arrest records relating to some specific eligible convictions may be expunged.

To petition for expungement, eligible individuals should take the following steps:

• Get an expungement form from the court where the case was filed.
• Prepare an affidavit affirming good behavior, with evidence of completing any other convictions or court orders.
• Get two affidavits from people in the neighborhood who are not relatives
• Make copies of all supporting documents and give the original forms and documents to the court clerk. Then, pay any required fees.
• Inform the District Attorney about any hearing at least ten days ahead.

If the court agrees to expunge the record, it will notify the relevant agencies in custody of the records to remove them.