Mississippi Arrest Records

Mississippi arrest records are official documents detailing an individual's entire arrest history. These records are typically encompassed within their criminal history information or criminal records, providing an account of the subject's run-ins with state and Mississippi law enforcement. Arrest records may not be used as a means to establish the subject's guilt, nor are they proof of criminal involvement. Rather, individuals are arrested on suspicion of illegal conduct or for the purpose of being questioned by law enforcement. Arrestees are released after their innocence has been sufficiently proven or they have provided any information helpful to law enforcement.

Mississippi arrest records are created when any law enforcement in the state apprehends an individual. It shows essential details about a suspected crime, information about the individual involved, and the basis of probable cause.

While the information contained in a Mississippi arrest record typically varies, the following details are usually featured:

• The offender's full name,
• Birthdate and place of birth
• Sex,
• Race or ethnicity
• Occupation
• Hair and eye color
• Mugshot
• Details of the offense
• Arresting agency
• The arrest location, date, and time
• Charges (if applicable)
• Bail/bond information (if applicable)

Are Arrest Records Public in Mississippi?

Yes, arrest records are public in Mississippi. The Mississippi Public Records Act describes arrest reports as "incident reports" from law enforcement agencies and authorizes the dissemination of these records to members of the public who request them. However, the Public Record Act also exempts certain arrest records from public access. Records that are exempt from public disclosure contain sensitive details that may endanger the subject's life or safety if disclosed.

How Do I Look Up Arrest Records in Mississippi?

To lookup arrest records in Mississippi, inquirers may query any of the following custodians:

County Sheriff Offices:

Mississippi County Sheriff Offices are responsible for the long-term retention of all arrest records and incident reports within their jurisdiction. Following an arrest, the Sheriff's Office generates an arrest record and stores it digitally while filing physical copies of all arrest reports. Anyone can look up arrest records online or in person at the county sheriff's office. For example, public requests for Madison County arrest record information.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety:

The Capitol Police in Mississippi receives, examines, and retains all official arrest reports and paperwork produced by the DCPD. Copies of non-investigative arrest reports are available for public access at the Records Division, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Members of the public can also Contact the Capitol Police Headquarters at (601) 359-3125 to request these records via phone.

**The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): **

The FBI generates and maintains criminal history records from fingerprint submissions following arrests and federal convictions. The FBI will supply an Identity History Summary, also known as a criminal history or "rap sheet," to requesters for $18. The Identity History Summary contains the name of the agency that provided the fingerprints to the FBI, the date of the arrest, the charges brought against the suspect, and the arrest outcome if the fingerprint submissions are connected to an arrest. However, the FBI only restricts these records to their subjects or persons with the subject's consent and those authorized by court order.

Free Arrest Record Search in Mississippi

To perform a free arrest record search in Mississippi, interested parties can visit public portals provided by local law enforcement organizations. These portals are free to view and usually hosted on the official site of the agency. However, the requester will need to furnish the tool with the detainee's name, the date of the arrest, or the subject's Corrections ID (if applicable). Searches of an agency's database are restricted to those who have been taken into custody. No unified database for free searches of arrest records exists in the state.

Free arrest record searches may also be requested by making in-person queries to the arresting agency. In this case, the requestor will need to confirm the address of the arresting agency and make an appointment ahead of their visit (unless otherwise required by the custodian).

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Mississippi?

Any record of an arrest or incident reported and documented in Mississippi remains on file for 25 to 75 years unless sealed or expunged. Records of Felony arrests whose associated crimes do not have a statute of limitation or that lead to death stay on record for 75 years, while other arrest records remain on file for 25 years. Mississippi's general records retention schedule provides guidelines for destroying and preserving arrest records.

How to Seal Arrest Record in Mississippi

Mississippi residents retain the right to request the expungement of their arrest records or convictions, provided they satisfy the state's eligibility requirements. Arrest records aren't necessarily deleted upon expungement. Instead, the record is maintained as a non-public record only available to law enforcement and the courts following the court's decision to have it removed.

Generally, Mississippi law permits first-time non-violent offenders to request to have any conviction removed from all public records from the justice, county, circuit, or municipal court where the conviction occurred. However, the state of Mississippi does not expunge traffic offenses/violations per Miss. Code Ann. 99-19-71.

Persons who are ineligible as per section 99-19-71 of the Mississippi code cannot request to seal their arrest records under any circumstance.

Eligible persons are required to submit a petition to the court where they were accused to request their charges dismissed. Every court may have a unique system for processing expungement requests. Whatever the case, petitioners can expect the court to schedule a hearing if there are objections to the expungement request. Where there are none, and the petition is approved, the applicant will be notified of the court's ruling.