Harrison County is located in the State of Mississippi. It has over 200,000 residents, making it the second-most populous county in the state. In addition to its county seats, Biloxi and Gulfport, other municipalities within Harrison County are D'Iberville, Pass Christian, and Long Beach.

Courts in Harrison County

In Harrison County, the court system resolves legal disputes arising within the county's boundaries. Each court has jurisdiction, which determines the types of cases it handles. The Circuit Courts in the county have original jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeds $200 and other civil actions outside the jurisdiction of the other courts. They also hear and determine criminal cases involving felonies and misdemeanors, except for cases exclusively under another court’s jurisdiction. Additionally, the Circuit Courts may handle appeals from other trial courts in Harrison County.

Two Chancery Courts serve Harrison County and have jurisdiction over guardianship and conservatorship of minors and incapacitated persons, wills, estates, and other probate issues. The courts also handle matters concerning divorces, child custody, support, adoptions, property disputes, alimonies, and equity cases.

The County Courts in Harrison County possess the authority to adjudicate civil and criminal matters within the jurisdiction of the county's Justice Courts. Additionally, these courts handle civil cases involving amounts in controversy up to $200,000. The County Court's jurisdiction includes eminent domain cases, personal property disputes, and unlawful entry and detainer matters. The Circuit Court judges in Harrison County may also assign criminal cases to the County Courts.

Harrison County Youth Court hears cases involving minors younger than 18 years old who are alleged to be delinquent or need supervision. It also handles child dependency, special care, and abuse and neglect cases involving such minors.

The Justice Courts in the county handle several types of cases, such as civil lawsuits, traffic violations, DUIs, county ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies.

The Municipal Courts in Harrison County handle cases involving traffic offenses, liquor and tobacco law violations, DUIs involving minors, and some misdemeanor crimes that occur within the municipality’s jurisdiction.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Harrison County

The Clerks of the Courts in Harrison County serve as the custodians of all public records generated at their respective courts. The Clerks are also responsible for providing public access to court records they maintain. Individuals can find public court records in Harrison County online or by searching them at their custodian’s office. Upon request, the Clerks may also provide copies of public court records at their offices or by mail.

Types of Public Court Records in Harrison County

Harrison County courts provide access to the following types of public court records:

• Probate Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Criminal Court Records
• Traffic Court Records
• Municipal Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Harrison County

Confidential court records in Harrison County are court documents, files, or information that the general public cannot inspect or copy. Mississippi laws prohibit the disclosure of such court records. The courts may also expunge certain records to make them accessible to only authorized persons. Unlike publicly available records, confidential court records are not accessible online. Confidential court records in Harrison County include the following:

• Youth court records
• Conservatorship records
• Expunged criminal records
• Adoption records
• Medical records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Harrison, MS

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Harrison County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Mississippi often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 952 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Harrison County. Of that total, 76% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 720 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Harrison County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Harrison County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Harrison County, MS

https://www.ms.gov/

County Seat:	Biloxi and Gulfport
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1841
Total Square Miles:	976
2019 Population:	205,027
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Harrison County, MS Courts