Washington County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Washington County provide essential documentation about individuals who have been detained by law enforcement under suspicion of criminal activities. These records are a valuable resource for legal professionals, government agencies, and the general public. They are closely linked with Washington County Court Records, which include further details regarding legal proceedings and outcomes such as arraignments, hearings, and convictions.

Arrests in Washington County occur when law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe that a person has committed a criminal offense. There are several circumstances in which an arrest may become necessary, and these are:

• Probable Cause: If law enforcement witnesses a crime or gathers sufficient evidence indicating that a crime has been committed, this may include physical evidence, witnesses' testimony, or confessions.
• Warrants: Law enforcement may arrest individuals based on warrants issued by the court. These warrants are typically backed by evidence and approved by a judge.
• Public safety: Arrests may be made to prevent imminent danger to public safety or to ensure the preservation of evidence.
• Failure to appear: If an individual fails to appear in court after being issued a summons or citation, an arrest may be executed to ensure compliance with the judicial process.

After an arrest, individuals are usually taken to the Washington County jail, a county-operated facility where they are processed, which includes fingerprinting, photographing (mugshots), and recording personal details. The Washington County Sheriff's Department is primarily responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records. These records contain the following details:

• Personal details of the arrested individual, including name, age, gender, and physical description.
• Date, time, and location of the arrest.
• Nature of the charges.
• Arresting officer's information.

These records are public, but their accessibility is subject to certain restrictions, as discussed below. Arrest records are directly related to Washington County Court Records, which document the legal process following the arrest, such as trials, convictions, and sentencing.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Per Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code §25-61-1), arrest records in Washington County are generally considered public documents and are accessible to the public. However, some arrest records may be exempt from public disclosure under certain conditions. These include:

• Juvenile Records: Arrests involving minors (under 18 years of age) are typically not made available to the public except in certain circumstances involving serious crimes.
• Expunged Records: Arrest records that have been expunged through a court order are only accessible to the public. Expungement in Mississippi is governed by Miss. code §99-19-71, which allows for the removal of certain criminal records from public access after a specified period, provided the individual meets the statutory requirements.
• Ongoing Investigations: Arrest records linked to active investigations may be withheld to avoid compromising the investigation or endangering public safety.

Members of the public may request access to arrest records from the Washington County Sheriff's Department or review Washington County Court Records, which include the legal outcomes of arrests.

Washington County Arrest Statistics

Over the past three years, Washington County has made 1,143 arrests. Washington's arrest rate was 873.31 per 100,000 residents. The jail population in 2019 was 14,430 across the Mississippi prison system, with an incarceration rate of 636 per 100,000 residents. In 2023, 27,000 of Mississippi's residents were locked up in various kinds of facilities.

Find Washington County Arrest Records

There are several resources for finding arrest records in Washington County.

• Washington County Sheriff's Department: The local sheriff's office maintains arrest records. Individuals may request records by visiting the office in person or through their official website, where some may be accessible online.
• Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS): The state's DPS maintains a central repository of criminal history records, which includes arrest information. Individuals may request a criminal history check through the state's online portal.
• Federal Resources: The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) provides federal access to arrest and criminal records. However, this service is typically restricted to authorized users such as law enforcement agencies and certain employers.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Washington County, arrest records remain a permanent part of an individual's criminal record unless they are expunged. According to Mississippi Law (Miss. Code §99-19-71), an individual may petition the court for expungement under certain conditions, such as:

• Acquittals: If an individual is found not guilty of the charges.
• Dismissals: If charges are dropped by prosecution.
• Non-Convictions: If an individual is arrested but never formally convicted of any crime.

Expungement may remove arrest records from public access, but the process may be time-consuming and require legal action. If an individual does not meet the criteria for expungement, the arrest record will remain indefinitely in the public domain.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official court order authorizing law enforcement to arrest a specific individual. In Washington County, arrest warrants are typically issued by a justice court judge or a circuit court judge based on evidence provided by law enforcement officers. Key aspects of arrest warrants include:

• Issuance: Arrest Warrants in Washington County are issued after law enforcement demonstrates probable cause that a crime has been committed, supported by evidence or testimony.
• Warrant contents: An arrest warrant typically contains:
  • The suspect's name and identifying information such as physical description, date of birth and gender)
  • The charges the individual is facing.
  • Signature of the judge authorizing the warrant.
  • Date and time of issuance.

Arrest warrants may be executed by the Washington County Sheriff's Department or other law enforcement agencies in the county.

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Washington County, arrest warrants generally do expire, meaning they remain active until the individual is apprehended. However, the statute of limitations for prosecuting specific offenses may affect how long law enforcement may pursue an arrest. For example:

• Felonies: Most felonies in Mississippi have a statute of limitations of 3-6 years.
• Misdemeanors: Typically, misdemeanors have a statute of limitations of 2 years in Mississippi.

If the statute of limitations has passed, the warrant will no longer be executable for the offense. Nevertheless, the warrant remains in the record until the case is resolved or dismissed by the court.