A sheriff in Mississippi is an elected county officer, and each of the state's 82 counties has one. The sheriff runs the county jail, patrols unincorporated areas, serves court papers, and keeps order in county courtrooms. This page explains how those offices are organized, how they differ from the Jackson metro area to the Gulf Coast to the Delta, and how to reach the right one quickly.

How Sheriffs Are Elected and Governed in Mississippi

The sheriff is a constitutional officer. Voters in each county elect one to a four-year term, and county races run on the same cycle as statewide offices such as governor. Because the office is elected, the sheriff answers to local voters, not to a state department. No single state agency supervises Mississippi's sheriffs day to day.

Several state bodies still shape the work. The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training sets certification rules for deputies and jailers. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety, which includes the Highway Patrol and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, often assists on major cases and maintains statewide records. The Mississippi Sheriffs' Association offers training and speaks for sheriffs at the Legislature.

Most of the money comes from the county. Each county has a five-member board of supervisors that approves the sheriff's budget, so staffing, vehicles, and jail conditions depend on the local tax base. In many counties the sheriff also serves as ex officio tax collector. The same office may therefore take property tax and vehicle tag payments, often at a courthouse counter rather than the jail. Call ahead and ask which window handles your payment before you drive in.

What a Mississippi Sheriff's Office Handles Day to Day

Outside city limits, the sheriff's office is usually the first responder. Inside a city that has its own police department, the city officers take the call. In small towns with little or no police force, the county deputies often fill that role. The two agencies regularly back each other up, so a 911 dispatcher will send whoever is closest.

One Mississippi quirk is worth knowing. Constables, who are separate elected officers in each county, serve many justice court papers. A summons may therefore come from a constable rather than a deputy. If you are unsure who holds a paper you need served or have received, call the court clerk named on it.

Deputies cannot give legal advice and cannot change a court order. They can confirm that a paper was received, explain how to bring a document in for service, and tell you which clerk or court handles your case.

Metro, Coast, Delta and Hills: How Sheriff Services Differ Across Mississippi

Jackson Metro: Hinds and Madison Counties

Hinds County is the state's most populous county and is built around Jackson. It has two judicial districts, so the Hinds County Sheriffs Department operates in two places. The Hinds County Sheriffs Department - Jackson Detention Center is at 407 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson, phone 601-974-2900. The Raymond Detention Center and the Penal Farm are at 1450 County Farm Road in Raymond, phone 601-857-4800. Knowing which facility holds a person saves a wasted trip across the county.

Just north, the Madison County Sheriffs Department and Madison County Detention Center operate from 2935 U.S. 51 in Canton, phone 601-855-0739. Madison County includes fast-growing suburbs, so deputies work alongside several municipal police departments. Calls inside Ridgeland or Madison city limits generally go to those city forces.

Gulf Coast and the Memphis Suburbs

On the coast, the Harrison County Sheriff's Office is at 1801 23rd Avenue in Gulfport, phone 228-865-7092. Harrison County has two judicial districts, Gulfport and Biloxi, which is why paperwork sometimes lands in a different courthouse than you expect. Next door, the Hancock County Sheriff's Office is at 8450 U.S. 90 in Bay Saint Louis, phone 228-466-6900. See the Hancock County page for its listings. Coastal sheriffs also work with county emergency management during hurricane season, so evacuation notices often come through their channels.

In the northwest corner, DeSoto County sits in the Memphis commuter belt. Our database lists the DeSoto County Sheriffs Department Narcotics Division at 40 East Robinson Street in Hernando, phone 662-429-1386. That is a specialized unit. For a general question, ask the operator to route you to the right desk.

Delta and Hill Counties

Rural counties run on smaller staffs and longer distances. The Leflore County Sheriff's Office is at 3600 County Road 540 in Greenwood, phone 662-453-5141, and the Leflore County page has more detail. The Tallahatchie County Sheriffs Department is at 205 South Pleasant Street in Charleston, phone 662-647-3700. Tallahatchie County has two court seats, Charleston and Sumner. Farther south, the Issaquena County Sheriffs Department is at 129 Court Street in Mayersville, phone 662-873-2781. The Sharkey County Sheriffs Department is at 120 Locust Street in Rolling Fork, phone 662-873-4321. Both serve very small populations, and a deputy may cover a large area alone.

In the northeast hills, the Itawamba County Sheriff's Office is at 201 South Cummings Street in Fulton, phone 662-862-3401. See Itawamba County for nearby listings. In south Mississippi, the Pike County Sheriffs Department and Pike County Jail are at 2109 Jesse Hall Ind Park Road in Magnolia, phone 601-783-6767. The Pike County page covers that area.

Reaching the Right Sheriff's Office in Mississippi: Practical Steps

Start by deciding where the issue happened or where the person lives. Jurisdiction follows the county, and in most cases the city limits decide whether police or deputies respond. If you are in danger, call 911 first. Use the office's regular number only for non-emergencies.

Some listings are mailing addresses rather than walking-in locations. The Newton County Sheriff's Office, for instance, appears under PO Box 395 in Decatur, with phone 601-635-2101. Phone first and ask where to deliver papers in person. Check the Newton County page for any physical address listed.

For public records, Mississippi's Public Records Act gives you a right to request non-exempt records, such as incident reports, though active investigation files are often withheld. Send the request in writing, name the date and incident as precisely as you can, and keep a copy. Offices may charge reasonable copying costs, so ask about those up front.

Sheriff offices in Mississippi are independently elected county agencies responsible for law enforcement, jail operations, and civil process service. Each county in Mississippi elects its own sheriff, who serves as the chief law enforcement officer for that county's unincorporated areas.

Sheriff locations are available in 85 cities across Mississippi. They are spread across 82 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of sheriff office listings include Canton, Magnolia, Rolling Fork, reflecting the population centers where multiple sub-offices or specialty divisions may be located.

Mississippi residents should note that sheriff offices handle civil law enforcement functions — such as serving eviction notices and foreclosure papers — in addition to criminal law enforcement, so the sheriff office is often the correct point of contact for civil legal matters at the county level.

Sheriff by Counties

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If you are a Mississippi resident looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, request a background check clearance letter, or serve legal documents through official channels, your county sheriff office is the starting point — contact them directly to confirm required documentation and current processing times.

Browse Sheriff by county across Mississippi to find the nearest location.

Reading Mississippi Sheriff Listings: Jails, Mailing Boxes and Shared Names

The listings on this page do not all describe the same kind of place, and a few details explain most of the confusion. Many entries combine two names, such as the Monroe County Sheriffs Department and Monroe County Jail on North Meridian Street in Aberdeen, because the office and the jail share a site. Others, like the Hinds County Sheriffs Department, appear more than once because the county runs facilities in both Jackson and Raymond.

Some listings come from public records that are not perfectly aligned. Our database shows the Pontotoc County Sheriffs Department and Pontotoc County Jail with an address on Mississippi 6 in Oxford, which falls in Lafayette County. The Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office in Woodville has a phone number with a 478 area code, which is unusual for Mississippi. When an address, county, or area code looks odd, treat the listing as a starting point and confirm by phone before you travel or send documents.

Whenever you can, check the county's own page here as well. Counties like Holmes County, where the Holmes County Sheriff's Office is at 113 West China Street in Lexington, and Webster County, where the Webster County Sheriff is at 321 East Gould Avenue in Eupora, may list several offices in the same county.

Mississippi Sheriff Questions Residents Ask Most

Mississippi voters elect a sheriff in each of the 82 counties to a four-year term. The sheriff is a constitutional officer, so the job exists in every county whatever its size. Candidates run in the county election cycle, which follows the same four-year rhythm as statewide offices such as governor. A sheriff answers to voters, not to the governor or a state agency. If a vacancy occurs mid-term, state law sets how it is filled, and the county election commission can tell you the current process. Your county circuit clerk can confirm who holds the office today.

Inside the limits of a city that has its own police department, call that department. In unincorporated areas, the county sheriff's office responds. Many Mississippi addresses use a town name in the mailing address even though the home sits outside the town limits, so the postal city is not a reliable guide. In an emergency, call 911 and let the dispatcher send the closest unit. For a non-emergency, such as a report about a barking dog or an old accident, check your county tax or property record to confirm whether the address is inside city limits.

Hinds County splits detention between two sites. The Jackson Detention Center is at 407 East Pascagoula Street, phone 601-974-2900. The Raymond Detention Center is at 1450 County Farm Road in Raymond, phone 601-857-4800. Call the first number and give the person's full legal name and date of birth. The staff can tell you whether the person is held there or was moved. Ask also about visitation rules, commissary deposits, and bonding procedures, since these differ by facility and can change. Do not travel to either site before confirming the person's location.

Both can. Sheriffs and their deputies serve most circuit, chancery, and county court papers, including summonses and subpoenas. Constables, who are elected separately in each county, often serve justice court papers, such as small claims and many eviction cases. The paper itself or the clerk of the issuing court will tell you who is responsible. Service usually carries a fee, and the amount varies by court and type of paper, so ask the clerk or the serving office before you file. A private process server is another option in many civil cases. Keep any proof of service the officer returns to the court.

In many Mississippi counties the sheriff serves as ex officio tax collector, so the tax and tag counter is run by the sheriff's staff. It is usually in the courthouse, not at the jail. Practice differs by county, and some counties have a separate tax collector or put certain services online. Phone the county's main office first and ask where to pay, which payment forms are accepted, and what hours apply. Bring your tax notice, your vehicle registration or title information, and a photo ID. If a deadline is close, ask whether the office accepts mailed payments by postmark.

Public address records are not always tidy. The Newton County Sheriff's Office appears with PO Box 395 in Decatur, which is good for mail but not for walking in. The Pontotoc County listing shows an Oxford address, which lies in Lafayette County. Jail sites may sit outside the county seat on a county road, like the Leflore County Sheriff's Office on County Road 540 outside central Greenwood. Mailing city names can also differ from the actual jurisdiction. Call the number listed, ask for the physical address, and confirm office hours before you go. Use the county page here to compare listings.