Pearl River County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agencies generate Pearl River County arrest records when they arrest someone for allegedly committing a crime. An officer of the Pearl River Sheriff’s Department and other local law enforcement agencies may make arrests based on an arrest warrant or if there is probable cause to believe an individual has committed a crime. Arrest information is not limited to records maintained by law enforcement; public records, such as Pearl River County court records and criminal history records, may also include details of arrests.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pearl River County?

Arrest records are public in Pearl River County, according to the Mississippi Public Records Act. This Act allows members of the public to access arrest records and other official information maintained by government agencies. However, certain arrest records are exempt from public disclosure under the Act and other state laws. They include the following:

• Information of persons arrested for misdemeanors
• Juvenile arrest records
• Records containing information about ongoing investigations
• Information on pending litigation
• Medical records
• Sealed and expunged records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Pearl River County typically contain details of an arrest, such as the following information:

• Name, age, and address of the arrested person
• Date and time of arrest
• Location of arrest
• Circumstances of arrest
• Arresting office and authority
• Detention and release date

Pearl River County Arrest Statistics

Mississippi Crime Statistics reveal that law enforcement agencies in Pearl River County made 30 arrests for violent crimes, including murder, sexual offenses, robbery, and aggravated assault, in 2023. Individuals arrested are typically detained at the Pearl River County Jail.

Find Pearl River County Arrest Records

Interested persons may find Pearl County arrest records through official sources at different levels of government. At the county level, information about current and past inmates may be accessed through the inmate list on the Pearl River County Sheriff’s website. Similarly, at the state level, inmate records are accessible through the inmate search portal managed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). The portal allows users to search for inmates’ records by name and their MDOC ID numbers. Furthermore, at the federal level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) runs an inmate locator portal where anyone can search inmates by name, age, race, sex, and BOP number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Pearl River County

The following government-run inmate search resources enable the public to find arrest records for free:

• Pearl River County Sheriff’s inmate listing
• MDOC’s inmate search portal
• BOP’s inmate locator tool

Third-party websites run by private bodies may also provide access to arrest records and many other public records in Pearl River County. While they may present a more convenient option, the information they provide may not be up-to-date.

Pearl River County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Pearl River County arrest records and criminal records contain official information about crime-related activities. Arrest records focus on information concerning the apprehension and detention of persons against whom criminal allegations have been made. Conversely, criminal records have a broader scope. A criminal record, also known as a rap sheet, is a collation of an individual’s interaction with the criminal justice system, including all arrests, charges, court proceedings, dispositions, convictions, sentences, and paroles. Pearl River County criminal records are typically maintained at the state level by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest in Pearl River County remains on an individual’s record indefinitely until the arrest data or related conviction is expunged or sealed by court order.

Expunge Pearl River County Arrest Records

Expungement of a record refers to the formal process of destroying such a record or making it inaccessible to the public. Mississippi law allows for the expungement of Pearl County arrest records of charges that are dismissed or that did not result in convictions. Arrest records relating to convictions may also be expunged where certain conditions have been met, such as completing court-ordered programs and undertaking a waiting period that typically ranges from one to five years, depending on the type of offense. However, records relating to certain offenses like first-degree arson, embezzlement, and trafficking in controlled substances may not be expunged.

Eligible applicants can apply for expungement by contacting the Pearl River Circuit Clerk and filing a petition for expungement of arrest records. The Clerk may require applicants to pay filing fees for the petition.

Pearl River County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Pearl River County is a court order authorizing law enforcement to arrest and detain an individual in connection with a criminal charge. Warrants are typically issued upon application made to a judge by a prosecution officer detailing probable cause for which a named person may be arrested. An arrest warrant typically contains the following information:

• The defendant’s name and address
• Criminal charges
• Issuing court
• Signature of issuing judge
• Direction to law enforcement to apprehend the defendant

Do Pearl River County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Pearl River County arrest warrants do not expire until the suspect is brought before the court or the court cancels the warrant.