Jackson County Public Records / Jackson County Arrest Records

Jackson County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Jackson County

Arrest records in Jackson County, Mississippi, are generally accessible to members of the public under state law. The Mississippi Public Records Act, codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq., establishes that all public records maintained by government agencies are presumed open to inspection unless a specific exemption applies. Law enforcement records, including arrest logs and booking information, fall within the scope of records subject to public disclosure under this framework.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under current law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the use and dissemination of their arrest information. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety oversees statewide criminal history records and establishes policies governing law enforcement records access.

What's in Jackson County Arrest Records

Arrest records maintained by Jackson County law enforcement agencies contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking. The following categories represent the typical contents of an arrest record in this jurisdiction.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, and hair color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Pascagoula Police Department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Statute or ordinance allegedly violated
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Name of the receiving detention facility

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bond status and any conditions of release

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the circuit or county court
Scheduled court appearance dates
Presiding court and judge assignment

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Fingerprint records and biometric data
Mugshot photograph taken at booking
Incident or offense report number associated with the arrest

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Jackson County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain arrest records through several official channels maintained by Jackson County agencies. The following steps outline the standard process for accessing these records.

Contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Office — The Sheriff's Office maintains booking records for individuals processed through the county detention facility. Requestors may appear in person at the records division during public counter hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or submit a written public records request by mail or email.
Submit a Written Request — Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-5, any person may submit a written request for public records. The request should identify the subject by full name and date of birth, specify the type of record sought, and include the requestor's contact information.
Pay Applicable Fees — Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and staff time associated with record retrieval. Fee schedules are available at each agency's records division.
Request Criminal History Through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety — For a comprehensive statewide criminal history record, members of the public may submit a request to the Mississippi Criminal Information Center (MCIC).

Jackson County Sheriff's Office 6012 Telephone Road, Pascagoula, MS 39567 (228) 769-3063 Jackson County Sheriff's Office

Mississippi Department of Public Safety 1900 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson, MS 39216 (601) 987-1212 Mississippi Department of Public Safety

How To Find Jackson County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms provide access to arrest and custody information for Jackson County residents and the general public.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office Online Inmate Roster — The Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible inmate roster on its official website, listing individuals currently held in the county detention facility. The roster typically includes the subject's name, booking date, charges, and bond information.
Mississippi Department of Corrections Inmate Search — For individuals who have been transferred to state custody following conviction, the public may conduct an inmate search through the Mississippi Department of Corrections, which allows searches by name or offender ID number.
Mississippi Sex Offender Registry — Members of the public may search the Mississippi Public Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Department of Public Safety to locate registered sex offenders residing in Jackson County.
Mississippi Courts Case Search — The Mississippi Electronic Courts system provides online access to court case information, including criminal case filings associated with arrests.

How To Search Jackson County Arrest Records for Free?

Public access to arrest records at no cost is available through several official sources.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office Inmate Roster — The online inmate roster is available at no charge through the Sheriff's Office website and is updated regularly.
Mississippi Courts Online Portal — The Mississippi judiciary's case search portal allows free searches of court records, including criminal case dispositions linked to arrests.
In-Person Inspection — Under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-3, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no cost. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
Mississippi Department of Corrections — The MDOC offender search tool is available to the public at no charge for locating individuals in state custody.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Jackson County

Mississippi law provides two primary legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These remedies are distinct in their effect and eligibility requirements.

Expungement results in the destruction or removal of the arrest record from public databases. Under Mississippi law, certain first-time offenders and individuals whose charges were dismissed or who were acquitted may petition the court for expungement. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71 governs the expungement of felony convictions for eligible offenders, while separate provisions address misdemeanor expungements.

Eligibility criteria generally include:

The charge was dismissed or the individual was found not guilty
The individual successfully completed a pretrial diversion program
The offense qualifies as an expungeable misdemeanor or first-offense felony under state statute
A specified waiting period has elapsed since the disposition of the case

Steps to pursue expungement:

Obtain a copy of the arrest record and court disposition from the Jackson County Circuit Court Clerk.
Consult with a licensed Mississippi attorney to assess eligibility.
File a Petition for Expungement in the circuit court where the charge was adjudicated.
Serve the petition on the district attorney's office and any relevant law enforcement agencies.
Attend the scheduled hearing and present supporting documentation.
If granted, deliver certified copies of the expungement order to all agencies maintaining the record.

Jackson County Circuit Court Clerk 4903 Telephone Road, Pascagoula, MS 39567 (228) 769-3089 Jackson County Circuit Court

What Happens After Arrest in Jackson County?

The criminal justice process in Jackson County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking — Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information.
Initial Appearance — The arrestee is brought before a judge or magistrate, typically within 48 hours, for an initial appearance. At this stage, charges are formally presented, and bail or bond conditions are set.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury — For felony charges, the case proceeds to either a preliminary hearing in justice court or a grand jury review in circuit court to determine whether probable cause supports the charges.
Arraignment — The defendant enters a formal plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere before the circuit court.
Pre-Trial Proceedings — Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea Disposition — The case is resolved through a jury or bench trial, or through a negotiated plea agreement.
Sentencing — Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Mississippi sentencing guidelines and applicable statutes.

Jackson County Adult Detention Center 6012 Telephone Road, Pascagoula, MS 39567 (228) 769-3063 Jackson County Sheriff's Office

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Jackson County?

Arrest records in Jackson County are subject to retention schedules established under Mississippi law and applicable administrative regulations. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, in coordination with the Mississippi Records Management Division, establishes minimum retention periods for law enforcement and court records.

Under current law, law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest records for a minimum period that varies based on the nature of the offense and the disposition of the case:

Felony arrest records are typically retained permanently or for a period of no less than five years following final case disposition.
Misdemeanor arrest records may be retained for a shorter period, commonly three to five years, depending on agency policy and state retention schedules.
Records associated with open or unsolved cases are retained indefinitely until the matter is resolved.
Expunged records are destroyed or sealed pursuant to court order, removing them from standard retention schedules.

Different agencies — including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the circuit court — maintain independent retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History publishes official retention schedules applicable to county law enforcement agencies.

How to Find Mugshots in Jackson County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. They are part of the official arrest record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of their arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the Jackson County Adult Detention Center as part of the booking record. Copies may also be retained by the arresting law enforcement agency and the Mississippi Criminal Information Center.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshot photographs through a formal public records request submitted to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office records division. Requests should identify the subject by full name and date of birth and specify the date of arrest when known.

Can They Be Found Online The Jackson County Sheriff's Office inmate roster may display booking photographs for individuals currently in custody. Third-party websites may also aggregate and publish mugshot images; however, these sources are not official government repositories and may not reflect current custody status or case disposition.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office. A nominal copying fee may apply.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access If an arrest record has been expunged pursuant to a court order, the associated mugshot photograph is subject to removal from public access. Agencies are required to comply with expungement orders and remove or destroy associated photographic records accordingly.