Forrest County, MS Arrests & Jail Records
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How To Search Forrest County Arrest Records
About 1,400 of the approximately 53,000 arrests that occur in Mississippi each year take place in Forrest County. The Mississippi Public Records Act allows members of the public to access most records created by government entities, including arrest records, at a cost ranging from $0.20 to $25, depending on the record custodian.
However, certain arrest records, including those involving minors, active investigations, medical records, or information that could endanger public or personal safety, cannot be accessed by the public. The Forrest County District Attorney's Office, law enforcement agents, judicial officials, the people listed in the records, and their attorneys are the only persons permitted to access these records.
How To Look Up Forrest County Arrest Records
Forrest County arrest records may be accessed through several government agencies, including the sheriff's office, local police departments, and the state's Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Sheriff Arrest Records
Individuals interested in obtaining Forrest County's arrest records can contact the Forrest County Sheriff's Office. They can make their request by mail or in person at:
The County Sheriff's Office
55 Arena Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: (601) 545-6148
They can also use the Inmate Roster portal to access details of persons incarcerated in the county's jails.
Police Arrest Records
Persons seeking to access police arrest records can go to the local Police Department in charge of the city or town where an arrest was made. They must provide basic details regarding the arrest, including the name of the person arrested and the arrest date. Requests for copies of arrest records typically attract a nominal fee. Additionally, certain police departments in Forrest County allow the public to access their arrest logs online. Major police departments in the county include the following:
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) under the Mississippi Department of Public Safety collates and maintains criminal records from different agencies across the state. Mississippi only allows record owners, entities authorized by record owners, and certain organizations to request criminal records from the MBI. Persons requesting their criminal record from the MBI must complete the Name-Based form and send it by mail or in person to/at:
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Mississippi Criminal Information Center
3891 Highway 468
WestT Pearl, MS 39208
For third-party requests, the record subject must complete the Authorization to Release Information form and provide the third party's name and mailing address.
Criminal Court Records
Arrest records of those whose arrests led to official charges are part of the County's criminal court records. The County Circuit Court Clerk and clerks of Justice and Municipal courts maintain criminal court records in the county. Record seekers can visit the courthouses to examine and request public criminal court records. Alternatively, they can access the Circuit Court records by contacting the Circuit Clerk at:
Circuit Clerk
630 Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: (601) 582-3213
Fax: (601) 545-6065
They can also use the Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts portal to access criminal court records from the county courts. Furthermore, interested persons can use reliable third-party platforms like InfoTracer to access Forrest County arrest records. These sites generally offer faster and more convenient access with a larger database.
Forrest County Arrest Statistics
Forrest County has an arrest rate of 18.7 per 1,000 population. Some arrest figures (adult and juvenile) recorded in the county are shown in the table below:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter | 4 |
| Kidnapping | 2 0 |
| Robbery | 17 |
| Rape | 27 |
| Aggravated Assault | 67 |
| Simple Assault | 276 |
| Burglary | 108 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 60 |
| Larceny | 290 |
| Arson | 6 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 1,466 |
Source: Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Forrest County Sheriff’s Office
It is situated in Forrest county, Mississippi with a total number of 0 employees - female, male officers and civilians. Forrest County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is MS0180000, it belongs to the East South Central division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
- Agency Name: Forrest County Sheriff's Office
- State: Mississippi
- City: Hattiesburg
- Type: County
- Address: 55 Arena Dr
- Phone Number: (601) 544-7800
- Email: thudson@co.forrest.ms.us
Police Departments in Forrest County
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Petal Police Department | 127 W 8th Ave | 601-544-5331 |
Forrest County Jail
- Agency Name: Forrest County MS Jail
- State: MS
- City: Hattiesburg
- Type: County
- Address: 55 Arena Drive
- Phone Number: 601-544-9770
- Fax: 601-545-6166
- Email: mknight@covingtoncountyms.gov