Harrison County Public Records / Harrison County Arrest Records

Harrison County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Harrison County

Arrest records in Harrison County, Mississippi, are generally accessible to members of the public under the Mississippi Public Records Act. Pursuant to Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 et seq., all public records maintained by state and local government agencies are presumed open for inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Arrest records, which document the act of taking an individual into custody, are distinct from conviction records, which reflect a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest record does not indicate that the subject was charged, prosecuted, or found guilty of any offense. Under current law, law enforcement agencies in Harrison County are required to maintain booking records, which are generally available to the public upon request, subject to applicable exemptions such as records pertaining to ongoing investigations or juvenile offenders.

What's in Harrison County Arrest Records

Harrison County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an official arrest record.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Residential address at time of arrest
Social Security Number (may be redacted in public-facing records)

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Harrison County Sheriff's Office or a municipal police department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Statute or ordinance allegedly violated
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, or personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bond status (posted, pending, or denied)

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the court
Scheduled arraignment or hearing date
Presiding court (e.g., Harrison County Circuit Court or Justice Court)

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, or transferred)
Release date and conditions of release, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history referenced in the booking record
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Arresting officer's narrative or incident report number

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Harrison County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Harrison County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for submitting a records request.

Identify the Correct Agency. Determine which law enforcement agency made the arrest. Arrests within unincorporated Harrison County are typically handled by the Harrison County Sheriff's Office, while arrests within Biloxi, Gulfport, or other municipalities fall under the jurisdiction of the respective city police department.
Submit a Public Records Request. Pursuant to Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, any person may submit a written request to inspect or copy public records. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the records division of the appropriate agency.
Provide Identifying Information. Requestors should supply the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking number to facilitate an accurate search.
Pay Applicable Fees. Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copying records. Fee schedules vary by agency and are typically posted at the public counter or on the agency's official website.
Await Processing. Under current law, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time. Complex requests involving large volumes of records may require additional processing time.

Harrison County Sheriff's Office 10451 Larkin Smith Dr, Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 865-7093 Harrison County Sheriff's Office

Gulfport Police Department 2228 15th St, Gulfport, MS 39501 (228) 868-5959 Gulfport Police Department

Biloxi Police Department 170 Porter Ave, Biloxi, MS 39530 (228) 392-0641 Biloxi Police Department

How To Find Harrison County Arrest Records Online

Several official and government-affiliated online platforms provide access to Harrison County arrest records and related criminal justice information.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety – Criminal Information Center: The Mississippi Criminal Information Center maintains statewide criminal history records. Members of the public may submit a name-based background check request through the department's official portal.
Harrison County Sheriff's Office Website: The Sheriff's Office periodically publishes recent arrest logs and inmate rosters on its official website, allowing members of the public to view current custody information without submitting a formal records request.
Mississippi Courts Online Case Search: The Mississippi Electronic Courts system provides access to court case information, including charges associated with arrests that have proceeded to the filing of a criminal case.
Harrison County Justice Court: Court records associated with misdemeanor arrests may be searched through the Justice Court clerk's office, which maintains dockets accessible to the public during regular business hours.

Harrison County Justice Court 1801 23rd Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501 (228) 865-4040 Harrison County Justice Court

How To Search Harrison County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Harrison County arrest records at no cost through the following methods.

In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, any person has the right to inspect public records in person at the custodial agency's office during regular business hours. Inspection itself does not carry a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested.
Sheriff's Office Inmate Roster: The Harrison County Sheriff's Office publishes a free online inmate roster that lists individuals currently held in the county detention facility, including booking dates and charges.
Mississippi Courts Case Search: The Mississippi Electronic Courts portal allows free name-based searches of court case records, which may reflect charges arising from an arrest.
Public Counter Access: Members of the public may visit the records division of any Harrison County law enforcement agency during posted business hours to review arrest logs at no charge.

Harrison County Circuit Court Clerk 1801 23rd Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501 (228) 865-4036 Harrison County Circuit Court Clerk

How To Delete Arrest Records in Harrison County

Under Mississippi law, the legal processes available for limiting public access to arrest records are expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). Expungement results in the destruction or removal of the record from public databases, while sealing restricts access without permanently destroying the underlying documentation.

Eligibility for Expungement

Mississippi law permits expungement of arrest records in specific circumstances, including:

Arrests that did not result in a conviction
Cases dismissed by the court or in which the individual was acquitted
First-time offenders who have completed all terms of their sentence for certain qualifying misdemeanor and felony offenses
Charges that were nolle prossed (formally dropped) by the prosecutor

Steps to Pursue Expungement

Determine Eligibility. Review the eligibility criteria established under Mississippi Code § 99-19-71, which governs expungement of criminal records in the state.
Obtain Certified Court Documents. Secure certified copies of the disposition of the case from the circuit or justice court clerk.
File a Petition. Submit a petition for expungement to the court in which the case was adjudicated. The petition must include identifying information, case details, and the legal basis for the request.
Serve Notice. The petitioner is typically required to serve notice on the prosecuting attorney's office and the arresting law enforcement agency.
Attend the Hearing. The court will schedule a hearing at which the judge will determine whether expungement is appropriate based on the facts of the case and applicable law.
Order of Expungement. If granted, the court issues an order directing all relevant agencies to expunge or seal the record.

What Happens After Arrest in Harrison County?

The criminal justice process in Harrison County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center or a municipal holding facility, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information.
Initial Appearance: The arrested individual is brought before a judge or magistrate, typically within 48 hours, for an initial appearance. At this stage, the court advises the individual of the charges and sets bond conditions.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, the case proceeds to either a preliminary hearing in justice court or a grand jury review in circuit court to determine whether probable cause exists to proceed to trial.
Arraignment: The defendant enters a formal plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest) before the circuit or county court.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea Disposition: The case is resolved either through a negotiated plea agreement or a jury or bench trial.
Sentencing: Upon a finding or plea of guilt, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Mississippi sentencing guidelines.

Harrison County Adult Detention Center 10451 Larkin Smith Dr, Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 865-7093 Harrison County Adult Detention Center

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Harrison County?

Arrest records in Harrison County are subject to retention schedules established by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and applicable state law. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are required to retain arrest records for defined minimum periods, which vary depending on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case.

Felony Arrest Records: Records associated with felony arrests are generally retained permanently or for a minimum of 25 years, preserving evidence and ensuring accountability in serious criminal matters.
Misdemeanor Arrest Records: Records associated with misdemeanor arrests are typically retained for a minimum of five to seven years following the date of arrest or case disposition.
Records Not Resulting in Conviction: Arrest records for cases that did not result in a conviction are retained in accordance with agency policy and applicable retention schedules, unless an order of expungement has been issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Booking and Jail Records: Detention facility records, including booking logs and inmate files, are maintained in accordance with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History records retention schedules applicable to county detention facilities.

Different agencies within Harrison County — including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the courts — maintain separate records systems and may apply different retention periods to the same underlying event. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining public accountability for law enforcement actions.

How to Find Mugshots in Harrison County

What Mugshots Are

Mugshots are official photographic images taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. They are part of the arrest record and serve as a means of identifying individuals who have been taken into custody.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained

Mugshots are maintained by the arresting agency and the detention facility where the individual was booked. In Harrison County, the primary custodians are the Harrison County Sheriff's Office and the municipal police departments of Gulfport, Biloxi, and other incorporated cities.

Finding Mugshots

Members of the public may request mugshots as part of a public records request submitted to the custodial agency. Requests should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online

The Harrison County Sheriff's Office and some municipal agencies periodically publish booking photographs on their official websites or through inmate roster portals. Third-party websites may also aggregate publicly available mugshot data, though the accuracy and currency of such information cannot be verified by official sources.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially

To obtain an official copy of a mugshot, members of the public should submit a written public records request to the records division of the relevant law enforcement agency, specifying the subject's name, date of arrest, and booking number if known.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access

Certain mugshots may be withheld from public disclosure under applicable exemptions, including images of juvenile offenders, individuals whose records have been expunged by court order, and photographs that could compromise an ongoing investigation. Pursuant to Mississippi Code § 25-61-1, agencies must balance the public's right of access against these recognized exemptions when responding to records requests.