Tate County Arrest Records

Arrests are an essential tool used by law enforcement to curb crime in the county. An arrest becomes necessary when an individual violates the law, and justice needs to be served. Law enforcement agencies typically carry out arrests under the authority of a warrant. However, officers may also lawfully arrest individuals without a warrant. For instance, someone who escaped a correctional facility or was caught committing a crime may be pursued and arrested without a warrant.

The Tate County Sheriff’s Office is the county's primary law enforcement department. The office is responsible for the county jail’s operations and for maintaining arrest records. Arrests and related information are often documented in both law enforcement reports and Tate County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tate County?

Yes. Tate County arrest records are generally accessible to the public under the Mississippi Public Records Act (MPRA) codified in Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq. This law ensures that records maintained by public bodies are open to public inspection.

While arrest records are generally public in Tate, there are exemptions to the records that can be accessed. These exemptions protect individual privacy, public safety, and law enforcement operations. Arrest records typically exempt from public disclosure in Mississippi include:

• Records involving juveniles
• Records tied to active or ongoing investigations
• Information that could identify confidential informants
• Details that may compromise law enforcement techniques or officer safety
• Records sealed by court order or expunged under state law

The Mississippi Ethics Commission enforces compliance with the MPRA. Individuals who are denied access to records may file a complaint with the Commission, which can issue binding opinions.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Information typically found in a public Tate County arrest record includes:

• Personal information of the person arrested, including their name, age, and gender
• Date and location of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Arrest charges
• Booking information, including date and number
• Mugshot
• Bond information

Tate County Arrest Statistics

Individual law enforcement agencies in Tate County generate arrest reports that include data on arrests made within their jurisdictions. These reports are submitted to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, which compiles statewide crime and arrest statistics. Crime and arrest statistics in the state are open for public perusal.

Researchers may access Tate County arrest statistics online on the Mississippi Crime Statistics Reporting Site. According to data from the site, 797 arrests were recorded in Tate County in 2024. Of these:

• 107 arrests were for crimes against persons
• 225 arrests were for crimes against society
• 66 arrests were for crimes against property
• 399 arrests were classified as Group B offenses

Find Tate County Arrest Records

After an arrest is made, the arresting agency is responsible for creating and maintaining the corresponding arrest record. Individuals seeking access to an arrest record may submit a request directly to the arresting agency. In many cases, the Tate County Sheriff’s Office, being the county's law enforcement agency, may also retain a copy of the arrest record.

Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office maintains records of individuals incarcerated in the county jail. Members of the public may visit the office in person to request access to these inmate records.

Individuals can also access information on inmates in a state prison through the Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Search tool. The search criteria include an inmate’s name or ID number.

For federal-level arrests and incarcerations, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) maintains an Inmate Locator portal, which allows users to search for individuals incarcerated in the federal prison system since 1982.

Free Arrest Record Search in Tate County

Tate County arrest records can be researched online using third-party resources. This option is useful for persons who prefer remote access and wish to avoid visiting a law enforcement agency in person. Users can typically search by entering an individual's name or a court case number, if applicable to the arrest. Performing a search is usually free, although payment may be required to access certain records, depending on the third-party provider.

Note: Third-party sources should not be treated with the same authority as official sources. Arrest records on third-party databases may not always accurately reflect information maintained by law enforcement.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever, Arrests in Tate County are maintained indefinitely on an individual’s record. Mississippi state law does not specify a retention period after which an arrest is removed from a person’s record. An arrest may only be removed through an expungement, which is available only after meeting specific eligibility criteria. To pursue an expungement, the individual must file a petition in court.

Expunge Tate County Arrest Records

An expungement in Mississippi seals a record from public access. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71 governs expungements in the state, and consequently, in Tate County. Individuals may apply to expunge an arrest record if:

• The arrest did not result in a conviction, i.e, the charges were dropped, not filed, or the individual was acquitted.
• The individual is a first-time misdemeanor offender, and they have completed all court requirements.
• The individual was convicted of a single, non-violent felony, has completed all sentence terms (including fines and probation), and at least five years have passed since the sentence was served.
• The individual was charged with a crime, but the case was not prosecuted within 12 months of the arrest.
• The case resulted in a non-adjudication, and the defendant successfully completed the program.

Certain offenses, such as violent crimes, drug trafficking, and sex offenses, are ineligible for expungement.

To begin the expungement process in Tate County, eligible individuals can file an expungement petition with the court that handled their case. The petitioner must also notify the district attorney's office and be prepared to attend any court hearings scheduled regarding the case. Upon finding legitimate grounds for an expungement, the judge will issue an order directing the sealing of any affected record.

Tate County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are judicial documents commanding that a person be arrested and brought before the court. An arrest warrant in Tate County is issued when a judge finds probable cause, based on sworn evidence or affidavits. A finding of probable cause must establish that a crime has been committed and that the accused individual is the one who committed it. Judges have the discretion to issue a summons instead of a warrant. A summons may be issued if:

• The defendant is not already in custody,
• The charge is bailable by right, and
• There is no reason to believe the defendant will skip court.

Per Rule 3.2 of the Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure, a valid arrest warrant must contain the following details:

• The accused's name or a description with which the defendant may be identified with reasonable certainty if the name is unknown
• The defendant’s location (if known)
• The offense the accused is alleged to have committed
• An order commanding that the defendant be brought before the issuing judge, or if unavailable, the nearest available judge

An arrest warrant in Tate County is directed to and executable by any law enforcement officer in the county. After the warrant has been executed, the arresting officer will return it to the clerk of the court specified in the warrant.

Do Tate County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Unlike search warrants with a 10-day validity period, arrest warrants in Mississippi (bench warrants inclusive) do not have an expiration date. Once issued, an arrest warrant remains active until it is either executed or, in certain circumstances, quashed by the court. In general, a court may quash an arrest warrant if the probable cause determination that initially justified its issuance is later found to be invalid or no longer applicable.