Panola County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Panola County, Mississippi, apprehend persons on reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed. The Panola County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies make these arrests.

They also generate and maintain copies of arrest records in the county. Inmates arrested in Panola County are held in the Panola County Jail, operated by the Panola County Sheriff’s Office. Panola County arrest records are often used with Panola County Court Records, where the arrest led to criminal prosecution.

Are Arrest Records Public in Panola County?

Panola County provides public access to open records in compliance with the Mississippi Public Records Act. However, certain records are exempt from public access. They include:

• Trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information
• Medical records
• Confidential or privileged information
• Investigative offense reports and other documents containing witness statements, police radio logs, taped communications, or officers’ daily reports.
• Sealed or expunged records
• Records exempt by federal law.

Panola County Arrest Statistics

The Mississippi Crime Statistics portal reported a total of 303 arrests made in Panola County, including 24 for violent crimes and 303 for property crimes. The violent crime arrests included three for murder, four for non-consensual sex offenses, and 17 for aggravated assaults. There were no robbery arrests. For property crime arrests included 38 for burglary, 214 for larceny, 26 for motor vehicle theft, and one for arson.

Find Panola County Arrest Records

The Panola County Sheriff’s Office provides inmate information by calling (662) 563-6231 and requesting the requisite information. The Mississippi Department of Corrections also provides inmate information at the state level through inmate search by name and MDOC ID. It provides the ID number, name, term and tentative release date, offense, sentence, and county of conviction.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) primarily deals with federal inmates and provides information about inmates in federal facilities. This is available through the BOP inmate locator.

Panola County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Panola County, Mississippi, arrest records and criminal records serve different purposes and contain distinct information. Arrest records document the specific details of an individual’s arrest. They include information about the circumstances surrounding the arrest, the arresting agency, and any charges filed at that time. They are generally accessible to the public through local law enforcement agencies like the Lee County Sheriff’s Office by request.

Criminal records provide a comprehensive history of an individual’s criminal activities. These records include all arrests, charges, convictions, and subsequent legal proceedings or outcomes. Criminal records may span multiple incidents and include both misdemeanors and felonies.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Panola County, arrests may remain on a person’s record indefinitely unless expunged. Expungement is the only way to remove arrest information from a record and is available only under certain eligibility criteria. Without expungement, the public may access arrest records and remain part of a person’s criminal history.

Expungement means that the record will be removed from public viewing, but it will not be destroyed. It will be accessible only to law enforcement and the courts. A person whose records have been expunged may legally deny being arrested, indicted, or convicted of an expunged offense.

To apply for expungement in Mississippi, the applicant must meet the eligibility criteria and waiting period under Mississippi law. The following records are eligible for expungement:

• Non-conviction records for arrests, releases, and acquittals. This includes where the charges were dropped, dismissed cases, there was no disposition, or where the person was acquitted of the charges.
• Non-conviction records for misdemeanor charges. This includes where a person is arrested, cited, or detained for a misdemeanor charge, and the charges are dismissed. If the prosecution does not formally charge or prosecute the case, a petition may be made 12 months after the arrest.
• Non-conviction records for pre-trial intervention, discharge, and dismissal. This is where the applicant has completed a pretrial intervention program or received a discharge or dismissal for drug possession or paraphernalia charges.
• Conviction records for misdemeanors and one felony. For misdemeanor convictions, the person may be a first offender or prove they have been rehabilitated and have a record of good conduct for the past two years (for persons with more than one conviction). The felony conviction must be a non-violent felony, and there is a five-year waiting period that starts with the completion of the sentence. The person must also prove that they have been rehabilitated. The following felonies are not eligible for expungement:
  • abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable person
  • crimes of violence (over two dozen crimes)
  • drug trafficking
  • embezzlement.
  • failure to register as a sex offender
  • felon in possession of a firearm
  • first-degree arson
  • third or subsequent DUI
  • voyeurism
  • witness intimidation
• Conviction records for specific offenses. This includes certain alcohol-related offenses, a minor in possession of alcohol, and a first-time DUI.

Depending on the conviction, the following waiting periods may apply:

• First time, non-traffic misdemeanor offense - immediately completing the sentence.
• Conviction(s) for misdemeanor offenses in municipal court - two years after last date of conviction;
• Felony conviction - five years after completing the sentence.
• Persons under 21 years when they were convicted of an alcohol-related offense - one year after completing the sentence.
• Conviction for a first-time DUI offender - five years after completing the sentence.

To apply for expungement, fill out and file the applicable forms below:

• Petition for Expungement of Criminal Record of Criminal Conviction
• Order of Expungement for Conviction
• Petition for Expungement of Criminal Record on Dismissed Case
• Order of Expungement for Dismissed Case

You should retrieve the necessary documents from the clerk’s office where your charge originated, including:

• A copy of your charging document,
• Proof of disposition or sentencing order (if applicable),
• An account balance sheet showing a zero balance.

Prepare a petition for expungement along with an order for expungement, attaching the documents you retrieved from the clerk’s office. File the petition, order, and supporting documents with the court clerk in the jurisdiction where your charge originated. Mail or deliver a copy of your petition and prepare an order to the prosecuting authority for the court where you filed your petition. Be prepared to pay any filing and document fees that may be applicable. The court clerk may also provide information on any upcoming court dates. The court may hold a hearing on the petition or notify the person when a decision has been made.

Panola County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents issued by the court instructing law enforcement officers to arrest an individual. In Panola County, arrest warrants are issued when the applicant (law enforcement agency or prosecutor) provides the court with probable cause for the arrest of the subject. Once issued, the warrant allows law enforcement officers to arrest the individual named in the warrant at any location.

An arrest warrant includes the following information:

• Case number.
• The name and alias(es) of the person sought for arrest.
• Description of the person, such as age, height, weight, and other identifying features.
• The offense(s) the person is accused of committing.
• The date and time of issuing the arrest warrant.

Do Panola County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Panola County, arrest warrants typically do not expire and remain active until the individual is apprehended or the warrant is recalled by a judge. Law enforcement has the authority to execute the warrant at any time, regardless of how much time has passed. However, changes in the underlying case or judicial discretion may occasionally lead to a warrant being dismissed or quashed.