InHarrison County, arrests are official procedures through which law enforcement officers take an individual into custody. The officers have the legal right to detain people suspected of committing crimes. Furthermore, officers may conduct arrests to prevent potential crimes or to protect people from further harm.
The officers also keep records of all arrests conducted within the county. Harrison County arrest records may exist as police or incident reports. The records are accessible through local law enforcement agencies. For example, you may access Harrison County arrest records at the county's sheriff's office.
Arrest records are also important components of some public records.Harrison County court recordson criminal cases may contain arrest information. You can also find arrest information in criminal history checks or rap sheets.
Are Arrest Records Public in Harrison County?
Harrison County arrest records are mostly accessible to the public. TheMississippi Public Records Actprovides for the general accessibility of all public records, including arrest information. Furthermore, the law authorizes government agencies to release records to the public.
Note that the law also exempts certain records from public view. Arrest information is generally exempt from public view if it violates rights to privacy or security. For instance, crime witnesses’ personal information is not part of public arrest information. Other exempt arrest records in Harrison County include the following:
- Arrest information that, when disclosed, will impede an ongoing investigation or prosecution.
- Arrest records that may endanger the lives of law enforcement officers
- Arrest data that contains investigatory techniques or processes.
- Crime victims’ personal information, including victim impact statements
- Law enforcement officers’ personal information, including home address.
What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?
UnderMS § 25-61-3(e), public arrest records include these details:
- Arrested person's name and physical attributes like sex, race, eye color, and height.
- The alleged offense
- Time and location of the alleged offense
- The property involved in the arrest.
- Description of the alleged offense.
Harrison County’s law enforcement agencies restrict access to confidential arrest records. Only legality eligible requesters can obtain the records.
Harrison County Crime Rate
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the Harrison County Sheriff’s office recorded 929 crime incidents in 2022. The total crime report consists of 50 violent crimes and 879 property records. Furthermore, larceny thefts and aggravated assaults were the most reported property and violent crimes, respectively. The county reported 629 larceny thefts and 30 aggravated assaults.
Harrison County Arrest Statistics
Harrison County arrest statistics are accessible through theMississippi Department of Safety. According to the agency, Harrison County documented 1,769 arrests in 2023. The report further revealed there were 30 violent crime arrests, 675 society crime arrests, and 1,064 arrests for crimes against property.
On the other hand, there is no county-specific incarceration data for Harrison County. However, Mississippi had a 636 incarceration rate per 100,000 residents in 2019.
Find Harrison County Arrest Records
In Harrison County, record seekers can find arrest information in inmate records. The records may feature arrest information, such as the arrested person's name, aliases, criminal charges, and bail conditions. That said, state or federal agencies provide access to inmate records through online repositories. For example, theMississippi Department of Correctionsmaintains asearchable database for inmate records. To access records on the database, record seekers must input the inmate's full name or ID number.
On the other hand, theFederal Bureau of Prisonshosts asearch portal for all inmateswithin the county. You can find Harrison County arrest information on the portal by inputting the inmate's name or ID number. At the county level, the Harrison County Sheriff's Office provides asearch portal for all detained persons. To access records on the portal, inquirers must provide the inmate's last name.
Free Arrest Record Search in Harrison County
Government-owned sites provide free access to arrest records. You may freely search arrest records on these official sites:
- Harrison County Sheriff's jail docket database
- Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate search portal
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate database
Third-party search sites are alternative options for accessing Harrison County arrest records for free. These sites may feature arrest information, such as inmate or criminal records. These sites are mostly unregulated and may not feature complete arrest information.
Get Harrison County Criminal Records
Harrison County criminal records reveal an individual’s criminal conviction history. They are not publicly accessible. Only the record subject or authorized third parties can obtain them from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The agency serves as the main custodian of Harrison County criminal records. Furthermore, it allows access to criminal records through anonline request portal. Requesters must input their information on the portal and pay the applicable fee. It costs $32 to obtain criminal records. The agency will send the requested document via the provided address or fax.
Note:It takes 30 days for the agency to process criminal record requests.
The Records Division of the Harrison County Sheriff's Department is another resource for obtaining criminal records. Unlike the DPS, the sheriff's records division provides access to criminal convictions recorded within the county. Furthermore, the records contain the arrest charges, date, and final disposition.
Only the record subject can request their criminal records from the agency. That said, requesters must follow these steps to obtain the record:
- Fill out acriminal record/background check request form
- Attach an identification card or a state-issued driver's license
- Submit the documents in person at:
Harrison County Sheriff's Department
Public Records Division
10451 Larkin Smith Drive
Gulfport, MS, 39503
Harrison County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records
In Harrison County, arrest records are not the same as criminal records. These records differ in their creation process, where they are found, and content. For instance, you will primarily find arrest records in the custody of law enforcement agencies. The agencies are also responsible for recording the documents. However, Harrison County criminal records are accessible at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Arrest records contain only law enforcement-generated information. On the other hand, criminal records contain both arrest and court data.
How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?
Harrison County arrest records will stay on file forever unless expunged or sealed. The record subject can petition relevant authorities to seal their records, provided they meet the legal requirements.
Expunge Harrison County Arrest Records
Expungement is the legal procedure for removing an arrest or criminal record from public view. In Harrison County, eligible persons can petition the courts to expunge their criminal records. If qualified, the court will destroy all public versions of the record. However, the court and the Missouri Criminal Information Center will retain copies of the destroyed record.
Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Harrison County?
Per MS Sec. 99-19-71, you are eligible to expunge arrest records under these conditions:
- You are a first-time offender who was convicted of a misdemeanor charge, except for traffic violations
- You were arrested, but the charges were dropped
- You were arrested, but the case was dismissed.
- You were convicted of a felony and have waited for five years after the sentence was completed.
Under Mississippi state laws, you can't expunge the following felony convictions:
- Arson in the first degree (Sections 97-17-1 and 97-17-3);
- Firearms possession, as provided in Section 97-37-5;
- Witness intimidation, according to Section 97-9-113;
- Voyeurism;
- Embezzlement as listed in Sections 97-11-25 and 97-23-19;
- Third or more driving under the influence (DUI) convictions;
- Trafficking in controlled substances;
- Violent crimes, as listed under Section 97-3-2;
- Failure to register as a sex offender; or
- Neglect or abuse of vulnerable persons Section 43-47-19
How can I expunge arrest records in Harrison County?
Eligible persons can expunge Harrison County arrest records through these steps:
- Fill out anexpungement petition form
- Submit the petition form and a $150 filing fee to the municipal court. For arrest charges that led to conviction, you must file the petition at the court that handled the case.
- Next, the court will set a hearing date to review the petition
- You must send a written notice to the county's district attorney at least ten days before the hearing date. The DA's Office has the option to raise an objection against expungement.
- The court will review the petition and verify that the petitioner does not have a pending criminal case.
If there are no objections to the petition, the court judge will sign anexpungement orderand direct all concerned agencies to expunge the records. The petitioner may request a copy from the court clerk.
Harrison County Arrest Warrants
Court judges in Harrison County issue arrest warrants to authorize the arrest of suspected offenders. The judges may issue the warrant upon receiving a complaint or affidavit from law enforcement officers.
UnderMiss. R. Crim. P. 3.2, arrest warrants may contain the following details:
- The defendant's full names, aliases, location, and physical attributes like eye color, sex, race, and height.
- The offense description
- Court directive that the defendant must be arrested and brought before the court judge
Harrison County Arrest Warrant Search
Record seekers can search for active or outstanding arrest warrants at the county sheriff's office. Residents and non-residents can inquire about these records by contacting the county sheriff at:
10451 Larkin Drive
Gulfport, MS 39503
Phone: (228) 896-0610 (warrant)
Email:pauline.blackwell@harrisoncountysheriff.com
Since arrest warrants are also court documents, you may request the records from the court clerk that issued them.
Do Harrison County Arrest Warrants Expire?
In Harrison County, arrest warrants do not expire unless the court nullifies them or law enforcement officers apprehend the record subject. Note that the statute of limitations does not affect the lifespan of arrest warrants.
