About 1,200 of the approximately 53,000 arrests that occur in Mississippi each year take place in Jones 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.
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 Jones 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.
Jones 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.
Individuals interested in obtaining Jones County's arrest records can contact the Jones County Sheriff's Office. They can make their request by mail or in person at:
The County Sheriff's Office
19 Yates Avenue
Laurel, MS 39441
Phone: (601) 425-3147
They can also use the Current Inmate and the 48-hour Release portals provided by the County Sheriff's Office to access details of current inmates and those released within the previous 48 hours, respectively.
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 Jones County allow the public to access their arrest logs online. Major police departments in the county include the following:
Eligible record seekers can access criminal records from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) under the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the state's central repository. Only record owners, those they authorize, and permitted organizations may request criminal records from the MBI. For $32, an individual may request their criminal records from the MBI by completing the Name-Based form and submitting it by mail or in person at:
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Mississippi Criminal Information Center
3891 Highway 468
West Pearl, MS 39208
To allow a third party to access one's criminal records from the MBI, the record subject must complete the Authorization to Release Information form, providing the third party's name and mailing address. Call the MBI at (601) 933-2600 for more details about requesting criminal 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 access the Circuit Court criminal records by contacting the Circuit Clerk at:
Circuit Clerk
101 Court Street
Suite B
Ellisville, MS 39437
Phone: (601) 477-8538
Fax: (601) 477-8539
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 the County's arrest records.
Jones County has an arrest rate of 1,859 per 100,000 population. Some arrest figures for adults and juveniles in the county are shown in the table below:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter | 7 |
| Kidnapping | 3 |
| Robbery | 12 |
| Rape | 14 |
| Aggravated Assault | 149 |
| Simple Assault | 410 |
| Burglary | 219 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 89 |
| Larceny | 614 |
| Arson | 4 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 1,232 |
Source: Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
It is situated in Jones county, Mississippi with a total number of 0 employees - female, male officers and civilians. Jones County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is MS0340000, it belongs to the East South Central division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel Police Department | 317 S. Magnolia Street | (601) 425-4711 |