Marshall County Arrest Records

Arrests are one of the primary ways law enforcement officers maintain law and order in Marshall County, Mississippi. The typical procedure for an arrest is as follows:

• A law enforcement officer procures an arrest warrant, observes a crime, or has probable cause to believe that a person has committed or will soon commit a crime.
• The officer apprehends the suspect and transports them to the local jail or appropriate detention center.
• The arrestee is photographed, fingerprinted, and processed into jail, and a record of the arrestee’s personal information and circumstances of arrest is created.

Marshall County arrest records are closely tied to other public records, such as the Marshall County court records, which are vital documents in the criminal justice system. By reviewing arrest records, law enforcement can analyze patterns that help them develop strategies to keep society safer and prevent crimes. Marshall County arrest records also provide references for criminal background checks and valuable data for crime statistics and policy formation.

Are Arrest Records Public in Marshall County?

Yes. Mississippi Code § 25-61 l-1 (also called the Mississippi Public Records Act) highlights the state’s commitment to transparency by ensuring government records are available to any member of the public upon request. Consequently, anyone can inspect or reproduce a Marshall County arrest record.

Nevertheless, the Public Records Act exempts several records from public disclosure, including:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Confidential financial and commercial information
• Private information of law enforcement officers and judicial personnel
• Expunged or sealed records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public Marshall County arrest record includes the following data:

• The suspect's full name, age, and physical description (height, weight, hair color, etc.)
• Arrest details (date, place, and time of the arrest)
• Arresting officer/agency
• Booking information (booking date and number)
• Court information
• Bail information

Marshall County Arrest Statistics

According to the Mississippi Crime Statistics Report compiled by the state's Department of Public Safety (DPS), Marshall County recorded two violent crime arrests and 32 society crime arrests in 2024.

The two arrests made for violent offenses were attributed to aggravated assault incidents. Meanwhile, of the 32 society crime arrests, 12 arrests were reported for drug/narcotic violations, 10 for driving under the influence, 8 for drug equipment violations, and 2 for weapon offenses.

No arrests were noted for property crimes that year.

Find Marshall County Arrest Records

Local police departments in Marshall County, like the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, and particular state and federal criminal justice agencies maintain Marshall County arrest records. Therefore, when seeking such records, one will need to know the appropriate record custodian.

Generally, an interested person can begin with the agency that made the arrest locally. Municipal police departments often accept visitors who wish to read a public arrest record at their physical locations during business hours. However, there may be options available to retrieve information remotely, such as calling a designated line or mailing in a written request. Inquirers should keep in mind that the relevant department will require details about the sought-after record, such as the arrestee's name, to process a request.

Note: Where the subject of the search is someone who was later incarcerated in a state penitentiary, a request can be submitted to the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to obtain their inmate records. MDOC also provides an Inmate Search tool for retrieving public inmate records with a subject's name or ID number.

If the subject was taken into or transferred to federal custody, the researcher can send a FOIA request to the federal agency that executed the arrest. They can also access the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Find an Inmate page to determine a federal inmate's whereabouts.

Free Arrest Record Search in Marshall County

Under Mississippi's Public Records Act, requesters of Marshall County arrest records are only mandated to cover the actual costs of producing documents. Consequently, although copying or mailing copies of records through government departments may attract a fee, merely requesting the inspection of a public Marshall County arrest record typically bears no charge on the requester.

Individuals can also obtain free arrest records by exploring third-party databases that provide complimentary access to such information. However, requesters must note that while third-party solutions may be convenient, they should not be used for official or legal purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Most Marshall County arrests remain featured on a person's criminal history information and may appear during background checks, except when expunged.

Expunge Marshall County Arrest Records

Individuals can expunge their Marshall County arrest records if:

• The arrest was a result of a mistaken identity or identity theft.
• The charges were dropped, or the case was dismissed.
• The case ended in a “not guilty” verdict.
• The arrest was for a misdemeanor, but the subject was not formally charged or prosecuted within one year of the arrest.
• The subject is a first-time drug offender, and the case was dismissed and discharged after sentence completion.
• The applicant has a conviction for an alcohol-related offense that happened before their 21st birthday and has completed their sentence at least a year ago.
• Two years have passed since the applicant's conviction of at least one misdemeanor in a municipal court.
• It has been 5 years since the completion of the applicant's first DUI (Driving Under the Influence) offense.
• The subject has a first-time misdemeanor conviction from a municipal court (excluding traffic-related offenses).
• Five years have passed since the subject completed their sentence for a felony conviction.

Applicants should note that they can only expunge one felony offense in their lifetime, and specific crimes, such as those listed below, cannot be expunged:

• A violent crime
• Voyeurism
• First-degree arson
• Trafficking in controlled substance
• Witness intimidation
• A third or subsequent DUI
• Failure to register as a sex offender
• Felon in possession of a firearm
• Embezzlement
• Neglect, exploitation, or abuse of a vulnerable individual

Qualified applicants may begin the expungement process by filing a petition in the court where they were charged or that has jurisdiction over their case. The petition will include essential case details and reasons why the record should be expunged.

After receiving the petition, the court may arrange a hearing. Upon thoroughly reviewing the petition, the court will deny or grant the request. Granting a petition means the court will issue an Order of Expungement directing the involved criminal justice agencies to seal the record.

Marshall County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal instruments that enable law enforcement agents to apprehend individuals suspected of committing crimes without infringing on their fundamental rights.

In Marshall County, judges issue warrants upon a finding of probable cause (typically supported by an affidavit) that a person has committed a crime. Judges can also issue bench warrants to enable the police to arrest someone who disregarded a court order. Still, law enforcement can effect an arrest without a warrant if a crime is in progress or the suspect is about to escape.

Marshall County arrest warrants typically contain the following information:

• The subject's complete name or description by which they can be accurately identified
• The defendant's location, if known
• The offense the subject was charged with
• A command that the subject should be apprehended and brought before the issuing judge or the most accessible judge within the jurisdiction in the issuing judge’s absence

Individuals may query local police departments for active Marshall County arrest warrants.

Do Marshall County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. In Marshall County, an arrest warrant's validity is not affected by the passage of time. However, an issuing judge can recall a warrant, rendering it unenforceable. Exceptional circumstances, such as a subject's demise, can also impede the execution of an arrest warrant, as law enforcement can no longer pursue the subject.