>Forrest County Arrest Records Online

Forrest County, Mississippi Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Forrest County, Mississippi?

Arrest records are public documents in Forrest County, Mississippi, pursuant to the Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq.). This legislation establishes that governmental records, including arrest records, shall be available for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statutory provision. The Act serves to promote transparency in governmental operations and accountability of public officials. Members of the public may access these records to verify law enforcement activities, conduct background checks, or for research purposes.

The Mississippi Public Records Act stipulates that public bodies must provide reasonable access to records during regular business hours. Requestors may be required to submit written requests and pay reasonable fees for document reproduction. Certain information within arrest records may be redacted if disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or compromise an ongoing investigation as provided under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-12.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Forrest County?

Forrest County arrest records are accessible through various online platforms as part of the county's commitment to public information accessibility. The Forrest County Sheriff's Department maintains digital records of arrests that occur within their jurisdiction. These online resources allow citizens to access public safety information efficiently without requiring in-person visits to government offices.

The Forrest County Official Records Inquiry system provides a portal through which members of the public may search certain official records. Additionally, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety maintains statewide records that may include arrests occurring in Forrest County. Access to these online systems may require registration or payment of nominal fees in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-7, which authorizes reasonable charges for record retrieval and reproduction.

How to Look Up Forrest County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist for obtaining Forrest County arrest records:

Sheriff's Department Records Division: The primary repository for arrest records in the county is maintained by the Forrest County Sheriff's Department.

Forrest County Sheriff's Department
400 Forrest Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-7800
Forrest County Sheriff's Department
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Circuit Clerk's Office: Court records related to arrests may be accessed through the Circuit Clerk.

Forrest County Circuit Clerk
630 Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-6110
Forrest County Courts
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Mississippi Department of Corrections: For information regarding individuals who have been incarcerated following arrest.

Mississippi Department of Corrections
723 N. President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 359-5600
Inmate Search - Mississippi Department of Corrections
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-5, requests for records must be responded to within seven working days. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for document reproduction and staff time required to fulfill requests.

Contents of a Forrest County Arrest Record

Forrest County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about the arrested individual and the circumstances of their apprehension. Standard components include:

Full legal name and any known aliases or previous names
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Residential address at time of arrest
Booking photograph (commonly referred to as a "mugshot")
Fingerprint impressions and other biometric identifiers
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Statutory violations alleged (Mississippi Code citations)
Case disposition information, if available
Bail or bond amount set
Court appearance dates
Detention facility information if the individual was incarcerated

These records are maintained in accordance with Mississippi law enforcement standards and retention schedules established by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 39-5-9. Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of these records, including Social Security numbers, medical information, and information related to juvenile offenders.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Forrest County

The expungement process in Forrest County allows for the legal removal of arrest records from public access under specific circumstances as provided by Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71. Expungement petitions must be filed with the Forrest County Courts that handled the original case.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Mississippi generally include:

First-time offenders who have completed all terms of their sentence
Cases resulting in dismissal or acquittal
Arrests that did not result in formal charges within the statutory timeframe
Certain misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period (typically five years)
Specific felony convictions enumerated in Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71(2)(a)

The expungement process requires:

Filing a petition with the court of original jurisdiction
Payment of filing fees (approximately $150)
Notification to the District Attorney's office
Possible court hearing
Judicial order directing all relevant agencies to expunge records

Upon successful expungement, the individual may legally state they have not been arrested for the expunged offense. However, expunged records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies and courts for specific purposes as outlined in Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71(4).

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records are generally public in Forrest County, several statutory provisions limit access to certain information. Miss. Code Ann. § 45-29-1 protects confidential law enforcement records that might compromise investigations if disclosed. Additionally, records pertaining to juvenile offenders (under 18 years) are subject to confidentiality protections under Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies must balance public access rights with privacy protections. Records containing information about victims of certain crimes, confidential informants, or ongoing investigations may be partially redacted before release. Law enforcement agencies may temporarily withhold records related to pending investigations when disclosure would impede the investigation process.

Government agencies processing record requests must comply with both state public records laws and federal regulations such as the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) when applicable.

Search Arrest Records in Forrest County

Cities

Hattiesburg