Jefferson Davis County Court Records Lookup

How to Search Jefferson Davis County Court Records

There is no single county-branded portal for Jefferson Davis County court records. The main online path for Circuit Court and Chancery Court cases is Mississippi Electronic Courts, the statewide system known to the public as PAMEC. The county Chancery Court joined that system on April 22, 2019, and the 15th Circuit Court District also uses it to assign and track cases. When a record is older than the electronic system or sits in a lower court, the next step is a phone call or a visit to the clerk who keeps the file.

Before you start, it helps to know a few basics. Have the full name of a party, an approximate date, and the type of case in mind. That tells you which court to check first.

The official county homepage is the simplest place to confirm office names, phone numbers, and links before a search. You can reach it at co.jefferson-davis.ms.us, which lists each elected office and court.

From that homepage the courts menu routes you to the Circuit, Chancery, Justice, and Youth court pages, each with its own contact line. The steps below show the order most people follow.

1. Decide which court heard the case. Felonies and civil jury suits sit in Circuit Court, while divorce, custody, probate, and land matters sit in Chancery Court.
2. For Circuit or Chancery cases, open the PAMEC system and log in to the public access account.
3. Enter a party name or, if you have it, the case number, then narrow by court and date.
4. Review the docket entries, flags, and filed documents the case returns.
5. If the file is not online, call the Circuit Clerk at 601-792-4231 or the Chancery Clerk at 601-792-4204 and ask for a copy or a certified copy.

Searching Court Records Through PAMEC

Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts, or PAMEC, is the front door to most electronic Circuit and Chancery files. The system needs a free account before you can view case data. You set up a username and password, then sign in each time you search. There is no separate Jefferson Davis County login, since the county shares the statewide platform.

The Mississippi Electronic Courts hub explains how filing and public access work across the state. You can read it at courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php, which serves as the entry point for both filers and the public.

The login screen itself is short. The table below lists the fields the public access page exposes, so you know what to expect before you register or sign in.

For help with an account, the PAMEC team can be reached at 601-576-4650 or helpdesk@mec.ms.gov. The mailing address is P.O. Box 117, Jackson, MS 39205.

The Jefferson Davis County Judicial System

Mississippi splits trial work among several courts rather than one county court. In Jefferson Davis County the main law court is the 15th Circuit Court, which covers Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, and Pearl River counties. The Chancery Court is the equity court for family and estate matters. Below them, Justice Court and Prentiss Municipal Court handle traffic, small claims, and low-level offenses. The county has no separate active County Court.

The Circuit Court bench includes the Hon. Prentiss G. Harrell, the Hon. Richelle Lumpkin, and the Hon. Brad Touchstone. Chancery cases are heard by the Hon. David Shoemake and the Hon. Gerald Martin. A felony usually begins with an initial appearance in Justice Court, then moves toward Circuit Court if charges proceed. Appeals climb to the state appellate level.

The Mississippi Judiciary explains how these trial courts fit together. The overview at courts.ms.gov describes the general and limited jurisdiction categories the state uses.

That state framework maps onto the local courts shown below. A single arrow line shows how a case can move from the bottom of the system to the top.

Case flow: Justice or Municipal Court › 15th Circuit Court › Mississippi Court of Appeals › Mississippi Supreme Court

Circuit Court Compared to Chancery Court

The two main trial courts in Jefferson Davis County often confuse first-time searchers. They sit at the same campus in Prentiss, yet they hold very different files. Circuit Court is the court of law for crimes and money disputes. Chancery Court is the court of equity for families, land, and estates. Each has its own clerk, its own judges, and its own mailing address.

The table sets the two side by side so you can tell where a record likely lives.

Jefferson Davis County Courthouses

The historic Jefferson Davis County Courthouse stands at the junction of North Columbia Avenue and 3rd Street in Prentiss. The county FAQ gives that corner as the courthouse location, while the courts page lists separate office addresses for each court. Filings do not all land at the same door. Circuit Court business goes to 1025 3rd Street, Chancery and probate work goes to 2426 Pearl Avenue, and Justice Court traffic matters go to 2335 Columbia Avenue.

The county courts page is the clearest single directory of these offices, phone numbers, and the judges who sit in each. You can view it at co.jefferson-davis.ms.us/courts, which lists Chancery, Circuit, Justice, and Youth Court together.

Because the offices use nearby but distinct addresses, it is wise to confirm the right one before you travel. The cards below cover the three offices most record searches touch.

Types of Court Records in Jefferson Davis County

The county produces a wide range of court records, and the type tells you which clerk to ask. Circuit Court files cover felonies and civil suits. Chancery Court files cover divorce, estates, and land. Justice Court and Municipal Court hold traffic and misdemeanor matters. Youth Court files exist too, but they are confidential and not open to a public name search.

The list below groups the records most people look for and points to the court that keeps each one.

• Criminal records - felony cases in Circuit Court, with affidavits and initial appearances starting in Justice Court.
• Civil records - lawsuits, judgments, and jury matters filed with the Circuit Clerk.
• Family and divorce records - divorce, custody, and alimony cases held by the Chancery Clerk.
• Probate records - wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships in Chancery Court.
• Traffic records - county tickets and DUIs in Justice Court, city tickets in Municipal Court.

Land deeds are a special case. The county FAQ says deeds are filed in the Chancery Clerk's office, alongside the family and estate files that office already keeps.

What Jefferson Davis County Court Records Show

A court record is more than a name. It is a running account of every filing, hearing, and order in a case. Electronic files in the Chancery and Circuit systems also carry status flags, short labels that mark events such as a sealed case, a pending capias, or a bench warrant. Those flags help you read where a case stands at a glance.

The Mississippi Judiciary homepage links the trial and appellate systems that generate these records. It is online at courts.ms.gov, which serves as the statewide gateway to court information.

The fields below are the core of most case files, whether the matter is criminal, civil, or family.

Public Access Laws for Jefferson Davis County Court Records

Most court records in Jefferson Davis County are open under the Mississippi Public Records Act. The practical rule is simple: ask the office that keeps the file. Circuit Court files and marriage licenses route to the Circuit Clerk. Chancery files route to the Chancery Clerk. A handful of record types, though, sit behind statutes that limit who may see them.

A short statute map helps explain what is open and what is closed.

The Mississippi Ethics Commission hosts the full text of the Public Records Act. It is posted at ethics.ms.gov, which explains how requests to county and city bodies work.

When a record is not online, a written request to the holding office usually moves it forward. Be ready to pay search, copy, and certification costs.

Records That Are Restricted or Confidential

Not every court file is open. Youth Court records, sealed and expunged criminal files, adoption records, and mental health commitments all carry limits. Access to those usually belongs to the parties, their lawyers, court staff, or people the law or a judge allows. Personal data like Social Security numbers and minor names is redacted even in open files.

To view or change a sealed record, you petition the court that handled the case. For an expungement under Section 99-19-71, you identify the court, case number, charge, disposition, and any costs still owed, then file with the right clerk. Jefferson Davis County does not publish a local expungement form or fee, so call the Circuit Clerk, Justice Court, or Prentiss Municipal Court depending on where the case sits. If a judge grants the order, it goes to the agencies that hold the record so public access changes.

Justice Court and Prentiss Municipal Court

The two lower courts handle the highest volume of everyday cases. Justice Court takes county traffic tickets from the Highway Patrol and sheriff, DUIs, misdemeanors, small civil claims, and felony initial appearances. The Hon. Jurtyne R. Youngblood sits in Post 1 and the Hon. Calvin Graves sits in Post 2. One local detail stands out: Justice Court judges hold sessions at the jail three times each week so that arrestees receive an initial appearance within three days of arrest.

Prentiss Municipal Court handles cases that arise inside city limits, such as city misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and city traffic. It meets in the Boardroom of City Hall at 911 3rd Street on the third Wednesday of each month, except for official holidays and declared emergencies. The court also publishes a dress code, so visitors should plan their clothing before a hearing.

Because a county ticket and a city ticket sit in different courts, a single missed date can hide in the court you did not check. When in doubt, call Justice Court at 601-792-5129 or the Town of Prentiss at 601-792-5196.

Specialty Courts and Pretrial Diversion in Jefferson Davis County

Jefferson Davis County does not run a separate drug court or veterans court of its own. The main alternative path runs through the 15th Circuit District Attorney, who serves the county along with Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, and Pearl River. District Attorney Hal Kittrell offers a Pretrial Diversion Program for first-time, non-violent offenders. It lets a qualifying person avoid a conviction by finishing set conditions, with a focus on rehabilitation and community service. The same office runs an Economic Crime Unit for bad checks and provides victim assistance.

The Mississippi Bar offers a plain-language guide to how the state's courts and these programs fit together. It is published at msbar.org, which is helpful for readers new to the court system.

Diversion is a possible outcome after charges, not a guaranteed right. For diversion or bad-check questions, the DA's Columbia office line is 601-731-1476, and the bad-check and diversion line is 601-736-2164.

Jefferson Davis County Sheriff and Jail

Sheriff Ron Strickland leads the county sheriff's office and serves as the county jailor. He is elected at-large to a four-year term, keeps the peace, and keeps the jail docket. The office mailing address is P.O. Box 339, Prentiss, MS 39474, and the phone line is 601-792-5169. Some unofficial listings place the office at 2330 Columbia Avenue, so verify the address before you travel.

The county does not publish an online jail roster or a public warrant list. To confirm custody, you call the sheriff. State prisoners are tracked separately through the Mississippi Department of Corrections. For the full custody fallback chain, see the Jefferson Davis County inmate records page, and for active warrants and the court-by-court approach, see the warrant records page.

Marriage, Divorce, and Chancery Records

Marriage and divorce records split between two offices. The Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records. The Chancery Clerk holds divorce decrees, since divorce is a Chancery Court matter. The Mississippi State Department of Health can search county divorce indexes for a fee and can sell certified marriage copies, but it does not keep divorce decrees. A full walk-through sits on the marriage and divorce records page, and estate matters are covered on the probate records page.

One county note needs care. The county FAQ still lists a blood test for a marriage license, but Mississippi dropped that rule on July 1, 2012. Call the Circuit Clerk at 601-792-4231 to confirm current requirements before you apply.

Probate and family files use legal terms that trip up many readers. The short glossary defines the ones that come up most.

Testator

The person who makes a will.

Executor

The person named in a will to settle the estate.

Conservator

A person the court appoints to manage another adult's property or finances.

Guardianship

A Chancery Court arrangement over the care of a child or protected person.

Intestate

Dying without a valid will, which sets a default path for the estate.

Jefferson Davis County Court Records Fees

Copy and certification fees vary by office, and the county does not post a single public schedule for its clerks. When a fee is not published, the safe move is to call the office before you mail a request. The state vital records fees, by contrast, are set and listed below.

Online records can lag behind the paper file, especially for recent filings or lower-court cases.

History of Jefferson Davis County Courts

The Jefferson Davis County Courthouse was built in 1907 and remains the principal architectural landmark in Prentiss. The building is a two-and-a-half-story Classical Revival design of orange brick with stone trim, drawn by architect W.S. Hull of Jackson. Its plan is unusual, with a semicircular center that holds the fan-shaped second-floor courtroom. The courthouse entered the National Register in 1994, and a jail wing was added around 1985 at the southwest corner in a style meant to blend with the original work.

The county itself is small and rural, which shapes how its courts and records work. The county demographics page links the census and economic data that frame that community. It is online at co.jefferson-davis.ms.us/demographics, which collects local population and economic resources.

Census figures fill in that picture with hard numbers. The U.S. Census Bureau reports about 4,453 households, a median household income near $38,548, and a broadband subscription rate of 79.2 percent, which matters for who can reach electronic court records from home.

The detailed county profile sits with the Census Bureau directly. It is available at census.gov, which lists population, income, and connectivity data.

One change is on the horizon. Local news in early 2026 reported that Jefferson Davis County will move into new chancery and circuit districts beginning January 1, 2027, so district numbers cited today may shift in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Jefferson Davis County court records open to the public?

Most are. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, court files are open for inspection unless a statute or court order restricts them. Open files include most Circuit and Chancery cases. Closed or limited files include Youth Court matters, sealed or expunged criminal cases, adoption records, and mental health commitments. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are redacted even in public files.

Does Jefferson Davis County have an online court records portal?

There is no separate county portal. Circuit and Chancery cases run through Mississippi Electronic Courts, the statewide PAMEC system, which needs a free account to view case data. Justice Court and Prentiss Municipal Court do not offer an online case search, so those records come by phone, mail, or an in-person visit to the clerk who holds the file.

How do I find out if someone is in the Jefferson Davis County jail?

The county does not publish an online jail roster. To confirm current custody, call the sheriff's office at 601-792-5169. People sentenced to state prison are tracked through the Mississippi Department of Corrections rather than the county jail. For court date or bond questions tied to a recent arrest, Justice Court at 601-792-5129 can help, since it holds initial appearances at the jail three times a week.

Where do I get a marriage license in Jefferson Davis County?

The Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses. The office is at P.O. Box 1090, Prentiss, MS 39474, and the phone line is 601-792-4231. Bring a picture ID, and ask the clerk about parental-signature rules if either applicant is under 21. The county FAQ still mentions a blood test, but the state dropped that requirement in 2012, so confirm the current steps with the clerk first.

How do I check for a warrant in Jefferson Davis County?

No public online warrant list exists for the county. Start with the sheriff at 601-792-5169 for arrest warrants. For a bench warrant after a missed court date, call the court that heard the case: Justice Court for county traffic or misdemeanors, Prentiss Municipal Court for city matters, or the Circuit Clerk for felony cases. A written records request to the holding agency is another path, subject to law-enforcement limits.

Which court handles divorce and probate in Jefferson Davis County?

Both go to Chancery Court, the county's court of equity. Divorce, custody, alimony, estates, guardianships, and land matters all fall here. The Chancery Clerk, Bobby Rushing, keeps these files at 2426 Pearl Avenue, P.O. Box 1137, Prentiss, MS 39474, phone 601-792-4204. Certified divorce decrees come from this office, not from the state health department.

Will Jefferson Davis County change its court districts?

Yes, a change is set for the near future. Local news reported in 2026 that Jefferson Davis County will move into new chancery and circuit court districts starting January 1, 2027. Until then, the county sits in the 15th Circuit Court District and the 13th Chancery District. District numbers cited now may differ once the change takes effect, so confirm the current district before filing.