About 2,300 of the approximately 53,000 arrests that occur in Mississippi each year take place in Lauderdale 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 agency in custody of the record.
However, certain arrest records, including those involving juveniles, active investigations, medical records, or information that could endanger public or personal safety, cannot be accessed by the public. The 10th Circuit Court District Attorney's Office, law enforcement agents, judicial officials, the people listed in the records, and their legal representatives are the only persons permitted to access these records.
Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County's arrest records can contact the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office. They can make their request by mail or in person at:
The County Sheriff's Office
2001 5th Street
Meridian, MS 39301
Phone: (601) 482-9806
They can also use the Inmate Roster portal to access details of persons incarcerated in the county's jails.
The Meridian Police Department is the only local police department in Lauderdale, and it allows the public to access arrest records. Interested persons can request arrest records from them by mail, fax, or in person at:
Meridian Police Department
510, 22nd Avenue
Meridian, MS 39301
Phone: (601) 485-1960
They can also contact the Records Unit by phone at (601) 485-1836. They will typically need to provide basic details regarding the arrest, such as the name of the person arrested and the arrest date. Requests for copies of arrest records attract a nominal fee.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety's Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) compiles and maintains criminal records from law enforcement agencies across the state. Only record owners, entities permitted by record owners, and specific authorized organizations can request criminal records from the MBI. Eligible record seekers must fill out and submit the Name-Based form by mail or in person to the MBI at:
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Mississippi Criminal Information Center
3891 Highway 468
WestT Pearl, MS 39208
For third-party requests, the record owner must complete the Authorization to Release Information form and provide the third party's name and mailing address.
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 the Justice and County courts maintain criminal court records in the county. Record seekers can visit the courthouses to examine and request criminal court records. They can also access the Circuit Court records by contacting the Circuit Clerk at:
Circuit Clerk
500 Constitution Avenue
Room 104
Meridian, MS 39301
Phone: (601) 482-9731
Fax: (601) 482-9734
In addition, they can use the Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts portal to access criminal court records from the county courts. Alternatively, interested persons can use reliable third-party platforms like InfoTracer to access the County's arrest records.
Lauderdale County has an arrest rate of 31.4 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 | 10 |
| Robbery | 10 |
| Rape | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 19 |
| Simple Assault | 291 |
| Burglary | 31 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 |
| Larceny | 259 |
| Arson | 0 |
| DUI | 486 |
| Drug Offenses | 552 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 2,293 |
Source: Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
It is situated in Lauderdale county, Mississippi with a total number of 0 employees - female, male officers and civilians. Lauderdale County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is MS0380000, it belongs to the East South Central division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Meridian Police Department | 2415 6th Street | 601-485-1893 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| East Mississippi Correctional Facility (EMCF) | 10641 Highway 80 East | 601-485-5255 |