Mississippi Criminal Court Records

Mississippi criminal court records are official documents filed or generated in connection with the prosecution of criminal cases across the state's 23 circuit court districts. These records provide a detailed, verifiable account of every phase in a criminal case proceeding, from filing charging documents to issuing the final judgment, allowing defendants, attorneys, prosecutors, and courts to examine and challenge proceedings when necessary.

Court records play a vital role in promoting transparency by offering the public a means to review judicial decisions, thereby strengthening confidence in the legal system's fairness and integrity. Mississippi statutes and judicial policies regulate access to criminal court records, which are primarily maintained by the Mississippi judiciary.

Are Criminal Court Records Public in Mississippi?

Yes. The judiciary in Mississippi sets a strong presumption that criminal court records are open to the public, empowering any individual to examine or make copies under its Public Record Policy. However, this policy does not overrule the exceptions stated in state law, as detailed below:

• Sealed case files: These files contain private information or details of informants and require a court order to be opened.
• Expunged records: Entirely removed from the public indices
• Dismissed cases without prejudice: Restricted from disclosure
• Cases under protective orders: Shielded from public view
• Statutory exemptions (Miss Code Ann. § 25-61-9): Cover investigative reports, personal files, or victim information.
• Grand jury materials (Miss Code Ann. § 25-61-9): Protected to preserve secrecy.
• Security protocols: Withheld to maintain safety measures
• Juvenile records (Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261): Restricted to safeguard minors' privacy.

What Criminal Court Records Contain in Mississippi

Mississippi criminal court records include various information that can be used to trace the progression of a case. These records may contain

• Defendant's identity: Full legal name, date of birth, and residential address.
• Charges: Specific offenses with statutory references (e.g., Miss. Code Ann. § 97-5-23 for kidnapping).
• Case documents: Dockets, affidavits, indictments, information filings, plea deals, transcripts, exhibits, and post-judgment modifications.
• Case proceedings: Arraignments, hearings, bail decisions, and trial dates.
• Court rulings: Orders on evidence, venue changes, and continuances.
• Verdicts: Outcomes from guilty pleas, bench trials, or jury deliberations.
• Sentencing details: Monetary fines, supervised probation periods, jail terms, community service mandates, and victim restitution amounts.

Mississippi Criminal Court Records Search

Individuals seeking Mississippi criminal court records can obtain them through some options provided by the records custodian (the clerk of the court that heard the case).

One primary access method is the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system, a statewide portal that provides digital access in participating jurisdictions. After a single login process, users can search records on MEC using case numbers, party names, or filing dates. The platform also links to county-specific databases, like the 19th Judicial District's online repository, facilitating cross-court searches. Online platforms often include filters for offense types or judicial assignments, improving search precision.

Alternatively, individuals can conduct an in-person search for records at the presiding courthouse, such as at a circuit or county clerk's office. These offices can help locate records in physical files or microfilm by using parameters such as a case number or party name, ensuring direct retrieval. While basic searches are typically free, plain copies incur a fee of approximately $1 per page, and certified documents cost around $2.50 per document.

Free Access to Criminal Court Records in Mississippi

Mississippi provides several free access points for criminal court records. The judiciary's MEC public interface allows anyone to review case dockets and activity logs online free of charge. Court clerks also provide case index searches at their offices.

Sealing and Expungement of Criminal Court Records in Mississippi

Sealing generally refers to restricting public inspection of a case file. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-263 specifically addresses the sealing of juvenile records. Under this law, a youth court may order the sealing of a juvenile adjudication record at any time, either proactively or upon a case party's request, provided the defendant has reached age 20, the case was dismissed, or the adjudication was set aside.

By contrast, expungement refers to the removal or "striking out" of conviction entries as authorized under Mississippi law. Mississippi provides for the expungement of adult convictions and non-conviction criminal records. The effect of an expungement order is to restore the person, in the eyes of the law, to the status they occupied before the arrest, indictment, or conviction.

How to Seal Criminal Court Records in Mississippi

To be eligible, the defendant must be at least 20 years old, or their case must have been dismissed or their sentence recalled. Although a party involved in a juvenile criminal case can petition for records to be sealed, the youth court can initiate the process at any point. Once eligibility is established, the youth court has the authority to issue an order to seal the record.

How to Expunge a Criminal Record in Mississippi

To expunge a criminal record in Mississippi, individuals may complete a legal process that begins with establishing eligibility and concludes with obtaining a signed order of expunction from the court.

• Eligibility Requirements

Misdemeanors: A first-time offender convicted of a misdemeanor, other than a traffic violation, may petition for expunction.

Felonies: Individuals convicted of a felony may request expunction of the conviction five years after completing all sentence terms. Expunction does not apply to offenses involving murder, drug trafficking, first-degree arson, repeated DUI convictions, firearm possession by a felon, or sex offender registration.

Arrest without conviction: When charges are dismissed, dropped, left unsolved, or result in an acquittal, the court will order the record expunged.

Public Officials: Convictions tied to the official duties of public officers are not eligible for expunction.

• The Expungement Process:
  • Filing the Petition: The petitioner must submit a written request in the court where the case originated, whether a justice, county, circuit, or municipal court.
  • Fees: The standard filing fee is $150, distributed across the Judicial System Operation Fund, the District Attorney Operation Fund, and the circuit clerk's office. Fees may vary depending on jurisdiction, and waivers may be available under certain conditions.
  • Serve Notice: At least ten days before the hearing, the petitioner must provide written notice to the district attorney.
  • Court Hearing: The court may hold a hearing at its discretion. For felony convictions, the judge considers whether the petitioner has shown clear evidence of rehabilitation. If the request is denied, the judge must explain the reasons in detail.
  • Issuance of an Expunction Order: If the petition passes review, the judge will sign an order of expunction, restoring the individual's legal status to its pre-arrest or pre-conviction state. The Mississippi Criminal Information Center and the District Attorney will then be instructed to keep the record private, making it available only for future law enforcement use. For example, the record may be disclosed when determining first-offender status or providing information for jury proceedings.

Criminal Records in Mississippi vs Court Records

Criminal records and court records are handled by different government agencies in Mississippi. The Department of Safety maintains criminal records, which provide statewide histories of arrests, convictions, and dispositions, and form rap sheets for background checks. In comparison, court records provide information about criminal prosecutions, including final judgments, and are maintained by the courts.

Requesting a Mississippi Criminal History Record

Mississippi criminal history records are maintained by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) through its Criminal Information Centre. These records incorporate fingerprint data from livescans, cardscans, and State Arrest Fingerprint Cards. Individuals may request their own records online or by mail. However, public access to another person's criminal history is restricted by law, and misuse of records can result in prosecution. Records may be released to a designated third party only with the subject's written authorization.

How to Request a Mississippi State Background Check

Individuals may obtain a Mississippi State background check online or by mail. For the online process, the requester will need to provide personal details exactly as they appear on their Mississippi Driver's License or Identification Card. A $32 fee applies, payable by major credit or debit card. Online requests are strictly for personal use. If the requester authorizes results to be sent to another party, they must provide the party's complete contact information; processing may take up to 30 days.

To use the mail-in option, requesters must complete the Release Background Authorization Form, attach a copy of a valid identification, and mail it with a $32 money order to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation at

The form authorizes either a name-based or fingerprint-based check and requires personal identifiers, such as a Social Security number, date of birth, and the requester's contact details. Fingerprint-based checks are strongly recommended because they provide the most accurate results. The Mississippi Criminal Information Center processes these requests and issues results directly to the requesters or designated third party.

Active vs Archived Criminal Cases in Mississippi

Active criminal cases are more readily accessible in Mississippi than archived ones. Active cases appear on current court dockets and online systems like MEC (which provides real-time updates for pending cases). Once cases are closed and archived, their records may be stored at an off-site location or archives. Interested persons will need to request the record from the archival facility-for example, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History-but processing may be longer.