How to Search Hinds County Court Records
There is no single search box for every Hinds County court record. The right channel depends on the court, the case date, and the kind of record. Felony and major civil cases sit in Circuit Court. Probate, divorce, and guardianship sit in Chancery Court. Small claims, evictions, and many county traffic matters sit in Justice Court. City citations sit in Municipal Court. Each track has its own door.
Before you start, gather a full name or a case number. The county legacy pages note that Circuit and County Court civil filings on or after September 13, 2013 are reached through Mississippi Electronic Courts, while older indexes still live on the county database site. The Hinds County online databases index lists the county-hosted tools, and the clerk's counter remains the fallback for files that are not online.
- Identify the court. Match the case type to Circuit, County, Chancery, Justice, or Municipal Court so you query the right system.
- For post-2013 circuit and county filings, start with Mississippi Electronic Courts and confirm the venue on the Seventh Circuit court information page.
- For chancery, probate, divorce, or land records, use the Chancery General Index by name and grantor or grantee role, or the Fifth Chancery MEC court.
- For money judgments, run the Judgment Roll by plaintiff or defendant name.
- For lower-court civil appearances, open the Justice Court civil docket and search by date.
- For older files, certified copies, or sealed-status questions, call or visit the clerk and use the county public-records request channel where it fits.
One county-specific quirk is worth noting. The Justice Court civil docket is searched by date rather than by name, and the page shows a fixed forward date range.
| Field Label | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Search by Date | Text | Required for a date search; a sample value is 6/23/2026. |
| Date Range | Display | The page showed a range running about three months forward. |
| Go | Button | Submits the date search. |
The Hinds County Judicial System
Hinds County sits inside Mississippi's state court system. At the top are the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Below them is a layered set of trial courts, each with its own job. Circuit Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court for felonies, appeals from lower courts, and major civil suits. Chancery Court is the equity court for divorce, custody, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and land disputes.
County Court handles a defined set of civil and criminal matters and runs Youth Court in Hinds County. Justice Court takes small claims, evictions, misdemeanor first appearances, and many county traffic citations. Municipal Courts in Jackson, Clinton, and other cities handle ordinance and city traffic cases. Hinds County's circuit-level electronic court is the Seventh Circuit Court District, and its chancery-level court is the Fifth Chancery District.
Case flow: Justice Court › County Court › Circuit Court › Mississippi Court of Appeals
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | General trial court | Felonies, major civil suits, appeals from lower courts |
| Chancery Court | Equity court | Divorce, custody, probate, guardianship, land title |
| County Court | Limited civil and criminal | Youth court, eminent domain, lower civil and misdemeanor |
| Justice Court | Lower trial court | Small claims, eviction or removal, misdemeanor, county traffic |
| Municipal Court | City court | Ordinance, city misdemeanor, city traffic |
Note: A search for Hinds County court records may need at least four tracks, namely Circuit and County MEC, Chancery MEC, county database indexes, and a lower-court clerk.
Hinds County Trial Courts Compared
The fastest way to misfile a request is to guess the court. Circuit, County, and Chancery Court cover very different ground, and the records they hold do not overlap by much. The Hinds County Circuit Court page lays out the general-jurisdiction role, while chancery work follows a separate equity track. Reading the differences before you search saves a wasted trip.
The lead-in image below comes from that official Circuit Court page and shows how the county presents its court offices online.
The Circuit Court is where felony cases and large civil disputes are tried, so its records carry indictments, verdicts, and sentencing orders. The contrast in the table makes the split between the three trial courts easier to use when you decide where a record lives.
| Feature | Circuit Court | County Court | Chancery Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main role | Felony and major civil | Lower civil and criminal | Equity and family |
| Typical records | Indictments, verdicts, judgments | Misdemeanor, youth court, appeals | Probate, divorce, guardianship |
| Electronic court | Seventh Circuit MEC | Seventh Circuit MEC | Fifth Chancery MEC |
| Clerk | Circuit Clerk | Circuit Clerk | Chancery Clerk |
Hinds County Courthouses in Jackson and Raymond
Hinds County runs two courthouse seats, one in Jackson and one in Raymond. Most records users head to downtown Jackson because the circuit, county, chancery, justice, and sheriff offices cluster there. The county's court systems landing page links each office and is a good starting point when you are unsure which building holds a file.
The image below is drawn from that official county court systems page.
Mississippi Electronic Courts lists first and second locations for both Circuit and County Court, which is why a Raymond case may not appear under a Jackson search. Use the address tied to the case district when you visit or call.
Circuit and County Court
407 E. Pascagoula Street
Jackson, MS 39201
601-968-6628
Circuit Court - Raymond
127 W. Main Street
Raymond, MS 39154
601-857-8038
Chancery Clerk
316 S. President Street
Jackson, MS 39201
601-968-6540
Types of Court Records Available in Hinds County
Hinds County court records cover a wide span, and the court that made a record decides where it lives. Circuit Court generates felony and large civil files. Chancery Court holds family and estate matters. Justice and Municipal Courts hold lower civil, small claims, and traffic files. Knowing the category narrows the search before you choose a portal.
The main record families that records users ask for in Hinds County fall into a short list.
- Criminal records - charging instruments, pleas, dispositions, and sentencing, mostly from Circuit Court.
- Civil records - complaints, answers, orders, and money judgments tracked on the Judgment Roll.
- Family and divorce records - divorce, custody, and support files kept in Chancery Court.
- Probate records - wills, estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship files.
- Traffic records - county citations in Justice Court and city citations in Municipal Court.
Judgment and land records add another layer. The Chancery General Index covers grantor and grantee deeds, and the Judgment Roll lists money judgments separate from the full case docket.
What Hinds County Court Records Show
A Hinds County court record is more than a name and a date. Files carry case identifiers, the court and district, the parties, the case type, filing dates, the assigned judge, docket entries, and the disposition. The MEC system also shows status flags that read like a shorthand for the case. Seventh Circuit flags include Arraignment Pending, Bench Warrant Issued, Capias Pending, BOUND OVER, County Court Appeal, and Expunged.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court-specific identifier; older county forms used a two-digit year and a six-digit number. |
| Filing Date | Helps decide whether a case sits in MEC or an older county index. |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant in civil cases; State and defendant in criminal cases; petitioner and respondent in chancery cases. |
| Charges or Cause | The charge name or the civil cause, with felony or misdemeanor noted on criminal files. |
| Disposition | The outcome, such as a plea, verdict, dismissal, or judgment. |
| Sentence or Judgment | Punishment, fines, restitution, or the money award in a civil case. |
Public copies may redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, minor names, and sealed material even when the file itself is open.
Mississippi Electronic Courts and Databases
Hinds County runs records access on two layers. The newer layer is Mississippi Electronic Courts, the statewide system that holds circuit, county, and chancery filings after their go-live dates. Public access to MEC documents runs through PAMEC, which may require an account and fees. The older layer is the county database site at co.hinds.ms.us, which still hosts the General Index, the Judgment Roll, the Justice Court docket, and the inmate search.
The image below is taken from the county's online databases index, where these legacy tools are listed together.
The go-live dates matter for any search. Hinds Chancery MEC went live January 7, 2013, Circuit MEC went live September 3, 2013, and County Court MEC went live January 1, 2016. A file older than the relevant date may only appear in a county index or in paper at the clerk's counter. PAMEC support is reached at P.O. Box 117, Jackson MS 39205, by phone at 601-576-4650, and at helpdesk@mec.ms.gov.
Public Access Laws for Hinds County Court Records
Public access in Hinds County depends on whether a record is a county administrative file, a court file, a jail record, a vital record, or a confidential youth or family matter. Court files are usually requested from the clerk or searched in MEC, because courts keep case files apart from general county departments. The Mississippi Public Records Act sets the baseline that public bodies must provide access unless an exemption applies.
Key Statutes:
Miss. Code Ann. Title 25, Chapter 61 - the Public Records Act; public bodies must allow access to public records unless a specific exemption applies.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 25-61-5 - sets the basic right to inspect and copy records and allows reasonable written procedures.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 25-61-7 - lets a public body charge the actual cost of searching, reviewing, copying, and mailing records.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 99-19-71 - defines the conviction and nonconviction categories that may be expunged if statutory conditions are met.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 43-21-261 - keeps youth court records confidential rather than open like adult criminal files.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 93-17-25 - keeps adoption records confidential and generally requires court authority to view them.
Restricted Hinds County Court Records
Not every Hinds County court file is open. Youth Court records are the clearest restricted category, and Mississippi confidentiality law keeps juvenile matters from working like adult dockets. Adoption files are confidential and generally need court authority to view. Sealed and expunged records may drop out of public search or show only a limited status. Mental health and drug commitments involving minors are sensitive chancery and youth categories.
Expunction in Mississippi is a petition-based process. A person identifies the case, charge, disposition, and court, then files in the proper court because an arrest record, a lower-court charge, and a felony case may sit in different places. Section 99-19-71 controls many eligibility categories, though eligibility turns on offense type, disposition, prior record, and waiting periods. If a judge grants relief, the order goes to the clerk, law enforcement, and record repositories, and the record may then leave public search.
Note: Because Hinds County has several courts, one expunction order may require the jail, a lower court, and Circuit Court to update separate records.
Specialty and Youth Court Programs in Hinds County
Hinds County operates within Mississippi's problem-solving court structure. Treatment-court models serve eligible defendants with substance-use issues, and in felony cases that work connects to Circuit Court, prosecutors, defense counsel, and supervision authorities. Treatment-court activity shows up as docket entries, compliance reviews, sanctions, or graduation and termination orders rather than as a separate public database.
Youth Court is the other specialized track most records users ask about. County Court carries youth court functions in Hinds County, and those proceedings may involve delinquency, neglect, abuse, and family services. Juvenile records stay confidential under Section 43-21-261, which is why they do not surface in ordinary court searches. Chancery Court adds further specialized tracks for adult and minor wards, guardianship plans, conservator plans, and commitments, all with tighter public access than ordinary civil cases.
Hinds County Sheriff, Jail, and Warrants
The Hinds County Sheriff's Office is the county agency tied to jail custody and current inmate information, listed at 327 E. Pascagoula Street in Jackson. The county's current inmate search lets you view information and a photo for a person held in the county jail right now. Only current inmate data and photos are accessible there, and the portal even lets you enter a single letter such as A to list current inmates whose last name starts with that letter.
| Field Label | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Text | Enter last name, comma, space, first name, such as Doe, John. |
| List by Arrest Date | Button | Lists current inmates sorted by arrest date. |
| Search by City | Text | Filters current inmates by city. |
| Pin Number | Text | Looks up a current inmate by pin number. |
Warrant information in Hinds County is fragmented. There is no confirmed standalone public active-warrant list on the inspected official pages, but inmate profiles show warrant number fields under each charge, and MEC flags include Bench Warrant Issued, Bench Warrant Returned, Capias Pending, and MDOC Warrant Issued. For the full roster detail see Hinds County inmate records, and for outstanding-warrant steps see warrant records. The MDOC inmate search covers sentenced state prisoners, while VINELink handles custody notifications.
Note: The inmate portal states its data changes quickly, reflects current arrests only, is not a conviction, and should not be relied on for legal action.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage and divorce records split across local and state systems in Hinds County. Marriage license work and probate run through the Chancery Clerk, while certified vital-record copies may come from the Mississippi State Department of Health depending on the record and date. Divorce case files are Chancery Court records, so the Fifth Chancery MEC court is the key source for a divorce file, and chancery flags such as DivorceStatsReq and Minor_Child signal workflow on those cases.
Probate is a Chancery Court function, not a separate probate court. Estate files can include wills, petitions to administer, inventories, accountings, and orders appointing fiduciaries. For divorce details see marriage and divorce records, and for estate matters see probate records. A few terms appear across these files often enough to define.
- Petitioner
- The person asking a chancery, probate, or family court for relief.
- Respondent
- The person responding to a petition.
- Conservator
- A fiduciary appointed to manage another person's property or finances.
- Guardian ad litem
- A person appointed to represent a child's or ward's interest in a case.
Federal Courts in Jackson
Federal cases tied to Hinds County are handled separately from the county courts. The county sits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, which sits in Jackson and hears federal criminal cases, federal civil-rights suits, and federal agency litigation. A person arrested by the county sheriff is not automatically in federal court, and a federal defendant may have no Hinds County court file at all.
The Southern District of Mississippi uses CM/ECF for electronic filing, and public lookup of federal dockets runs through PACER, where users register and may pay per-page fees. Federal bankruptcy cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District, and appeals move to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Federal custody is searched through the Bureau of Prisons locator, not the county jail or state prison systems.
Hinds County Court Records Fees
Fees in Hinds County depend on the clerk, the court, and the access channel. The inspected official sources did not publish a current copy-fee schedule for the clerk's office, so confirm any plain-copy or certified-copy charge with the clerk before you order. For electronic court documents, access and fees are governed by MEC and PAMEC rather than a flat county rate. The table below lists the fee items honestly, without invented dollar amounts.
| Item | Availability |
|---|---|
| Plain and certified copies | Schedule not published in official sources; confirm with the clerk. |
| Circuit and County documents after Sept. 13, 2013 | Accessed through MEC; account and fees governed by PAMEC. |
| Public records request | County web request form is the local fallback for non-court records. |
| MEC public access support | PAMEC at 601-576-4650 and helpdesk@mec.ms.gov. |
Note: The Public Records Act lets a public body charge the actual cost of searching, reviewing, copying, and mailing, so request fees can vary by record.
History of Hinds County Courts
Hinds County is one of Mississippi's historically significant counties because Jackson is both the state capital and a county seat. The county was created in the early nineteenth century and has long used both Jackson and Raymond as courthouse centers. That two-courthouse tradition still shapes records access today, since MEC lists first and second locations for Circuit and County Court and the Chancery Court keeps both a Jackson office and a Raymond annex.
The records system also reflects a clear transition point. Older county database tools were built before statewide electronic filing took over, and the legacy court pages still direct post-2013 filings to MEC. Chancery MEC went live in January 2013, Circuit MEC followed that September, and County Court joined in 2016. Those dates are the reason a single Hinds County search can touch both a modern electronic court and an older county index.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start a Hinds County court records search?
Start by naming the court. Felony and major civil cases sit in Circuit Court, family and estate matters sit in Chancery Court, and small claims or eviction cases sit in Justice Court. For circuit and county filings after September 13, 2013, use Mississippi Electronic Courts. For older indexes, judgments, and the Justice Court docket, use the county database site. When a record is not online, call or visit the clerk.
Why are Hinds County records split between Jackson and Raymond?
Hinds County keeps two courthouse seats, a primary one in Jackson and a second in Raymond. Mississippi Electronic Courts lists first and second locations for both Circuit and County Court, and Chancery Court runs a Jackson office plus a Raymond annex. A case assigned to the second district may not appear under a Jackson-only search, so match your lookup to the case district.
Are Hinds County court records free to search?
Many county tools are free, including the General Index, the Judgment Roll, the Justice Court docket, and the current inmate search. Mississippi Electronic Courts is different. Public access to MEC documents runs through PAMEC and may require an account and per-document fees. Certified copies from the clerk also carry a charge that is not published in the inspected official sources.
How do I check for a Hinds County warrant?
There is no confirmed standalone public active-warrant list for the county on the inspected official pages. Inmate profiles show warrant number fields once a person is booked, and MEC case flags can show bench warrants and capias status. To confirm an active warrant, identify the issuing court and call the clerk or the sheriff before appearing. The warrant records page covers the full process.
What does MEC mean for Hinds County records?
MEC is Mississippi Electronic Courts, the statewide electronic filing and access system. Hinds Chancery went live in January 2013, Circuit in September 2013, and County Court in 2016. Cases filed after those dates generally live in MEC, while older files may only appear in a county index or in paper. PAMEC provides public access support by phone and email.
Are youth court and adoption records public in Hinds County?
No. Youth court records are confidential under Section 43-21-261 and do not work like adult criminal dockets. Adoption records are confidential under Section 93-17-25 and generally require court authority to view. Sealed and expunged records may also drop out of public search. These limits apply even when the surrounding court system is otherwise open to the public.
Where are federal cases from Hinds County filed?
Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in Jackson, not the county courts. Public federal dockets are searched through PACER. Bankruptcy cases go to the federal bankruptcy court for the district, and appeals move to the Fifth Circuit. A county arrest does not place a person in federal court, so always search the court that actually filed the case.