Cleveland, Mississippi Public Records

In Mississippi, the bond or bail process allows for the temporary release of detainees pending trial, with conditions set by the court. To find someone recently arrested in Bolivar County, individuals can contact the jail directly or use online inmate search tools provided by the Sheriff's Office.

For more serious matters, the Bolivar County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $200,000, and appeals from lower courts, operating from the Bolivar County Courthouse in Rosedale (phone: 662-843-2071) with proceedings also held at the Bolivar County Justice Complex at 200 South Chrisman Avenue, Cleveland. The Bolivar County Chancery Court, also at the Rosedale courthouse (phone: 662-843-2024), handles family law matters including divorce and custody, estate and probate cases, property disputes, and guardianships. The Bolivar County Justice Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, civil claims up to $3,500, small claims, evictions, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Mississippi offers online court record searches through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system at courts.ms.gov, which provides case information for circuit and chancery courts statewide, though coverage and detail vary by county and some records may only be fully accessible in person. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.50 per page plus a certification fee of approximately $2.00. Case file searches at the clerk's office are generally free for public access, though extensive research requests may incur fees. Specific fee schedules are set by state statute and posted at clerk offices.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assists with more complex inquiries, particularly those involving multiple jurisdictions. Access to criminal records is governed by state laws, ensuring both transparency and privacy protection.

Property searches can be conducted online through the Bolivar County property search portal, typically accessible via bolivarcounty.ms or through the state's property tax search system. These online databases allow searches by owner name, property address, or parcel number, displaying assessed values, legal descriptions, tax amounts, and ownership history. The Bolivar County Chancery Clerk serves as the county's land records custodian, maintaining offices at the Bolivar County Courthouse, 200 East Cypress Street, Rosedale, MS 38769 (phone: 662-759-3022) and at 200 South Chrisman Avenue, Cleveland (phone: 662-843-2024). The Chancery Clerk records deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property. Land records in Mississippi are indexed by grantor/grantee name and legal description. Some Bolivar County land records may be searchable online through third-party subscription services or county systems, though full document images often require in-person access or payment. The county may also offer a GIS mapping system for visual parcel searches. Recording fees are established by Mississippi statute, typically $12 for the first page and $2 for each additional page for most instruments.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation operates a significant manufacturing facility in Cleveland, producing intravenous solutions and employing several hundred workers in one of the area's few large-scale industrial operations. Agriculture remains foundational to the local economy, with cotton, soybeans, rice, and catfish farming dominating the surrounding Delta landscape; agricultural services, equipment suppliers, and processing facilities support this sector. The median household income in Cleveland is approximately $32,000, significantly below state and national averages, reflecting the broader economic challenges facing the Mississippi Delta region. Poverty rates are substantially higher than state averages. Recent economic development efforts have focused on leveraging the university's research capabilities and the Grammy Museum Mississippi as cultural tourism draws. The museum, which opened in 2016 adjacent to Delta State's campus, represents a partnership between the university, Grammy Foundation, and state/local entities aimed at heritage tourism. Cleveland also benefits from its position along Highway 61 and proximity to regional medical facilities. The city's economy is intrinsically tied to broader Bolivar County economic patterns, with agricultural productivity, federal assistance programs, education, and healthcare forming the primary economic pillars. Population decline and out-migration of young adults remain ongoing challenges for economic sustainability.

The Cleveland Police Department, located at 111 North Sharpe Avenue, Cleveland, MS 38732 (phone: 662-843-3611), provides law enforcement services within the Cleveland city limits. Citizens may request police reports and incident records by visiting the department in person or calling during business hours; the department maintains accident reports, offense reports, and related records. Cleveland PD's website can be accessed through the city's portal at clevelandms.gov. For areas outside city limits and countywide law enforcement matters, the Bolivar County Sheriff's Office serves the region from two locations: the main office at the Bolivar County Courthouse in Rosedale and a substation at 200 South Chrisman Avenue, Cleveland, MS 38732 (phone: 662-843-5046). The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, investigations, and operates the county detention facility.

Arrest and jail booking information for Bolivar County can be searched through the JailTracker inmate roster system, typically accessible at apps.bcso.org or through third-party jail roster websites that aggregate Mississippi booking data. The roster generally displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and sometimes booking photos. To obtain copies of arrest records or incident reports under Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17), requesters should submit written requests to the custodian of records at either the Cleveland Police Department or Bolivar County Sheriff's Office. The law requires agencies to respond within fourteen business days and permits reasonable copying fees. Some records may be exempt from disclosure if they pertain to ongoing investigations or contain confidential information protected by statute.

Online orders typically arrive within 3-5 business days plus shipping time, while mail requests take 2-3 weeks. Mississippi birth records are available from 1912 forward and death records from 1912 forward. Applicants must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate direct and tangible interest—generally limited to the person named on the record (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a court order. Marriage licenses for Cleveland couples are issued by the Bolivar County Chancery Clerk's Office, 200 South Chrisman Avenue, Cleveland, MS 38732 (phone: 662-843-2024), or the Rosedale office at 200 East Cypress Street. Mississippi has no waiting period or blood test requirement. The marriage license fee is approximately $21, and licenses are valid for 30 days from issuance. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and social security numbers. Certified copies of recorded marriage certificates cost approximately $10. Divorce records are maintained as part of chancery court case files and can be accessed through the Chancery Clerk's office; certified copies of divorce decrees typically cost $1.50 per page plus certification fees. Marriage records have been systematically maintained since the early 20th century, with older records available in bound volumes at the Chancery Clerk's offices.

Business name registrations (fictitious names/DBAs) and assumed names for Bolivar County businesses are filed with the Bolivar County Chancery Clerk, 200 South Chrisman Avenue, Cleveland, or 200 East Cypress Street, Rosedale (phone: 662-843-2024 for Cleveland office). Registration fees are established by state statute. For formal business entity formation, the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office maintains the statewide business registry. Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other entities can be searched free at sos.ms.gov/business-services through the Business Services Division's online database. The search tool allows lookups by business name, registered agent, or filing number, displaying entity status, formation date, registered office address, and officers/managers. Annual reports are required for most entities. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches for Cleveland businesses are conducted through the Mississippi Secretary of State's UCC Division at sos.ms.gov/ucc. Commercial property assessments and business personal property tax records are maintained by the Bolivar County Tax Assessor, 201 South Court Street, Cleveland, MS 38732 (phone: 662-843-5026), and are generally searchable through the county's online property database alongside residential properties.

Cleveland voters are served by the Bolivar County Election Commission and Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections from two locations: the main office at 200 East Cypress Street, Rosedale, MS 38769 (phone: 662-759-3022) and 200 South Chrisman Avenue, Cleveland, MS 38732 (phone: 662-843-2071). The Circuit Clerk serves as the county's voter registrar and maintains voter registration records for all Cleveland residents. Mississippi voters can register online through the Mississippi Online Voter Registration system at yallvote.sos.ms.gov, which requires a Mississippi driver's license or state ID. Voters must register at least 30 days before an election. First-time voters must provide acceptable photo identification when voting, and all voters should bring photo ID to the polls as required by Mississippi law.

Cleveland municipal elections for mayor and city council (Board of Aldermen) are held in accordance with Mississippi municipal election law, typically in June of odd-numbered years. The next regular Cleveland municipal elections are scheduled for June 2025, when the mayor and all aldermen positions will be on the ballot. Cleveland operates under an aldermanic form of government with a mayor and board. Candidate qualifying information and local ballot measures are posted at City Hall and through the City of Cleveland's website. Cleveland residents can find their assigned polling location by contacting the Bolivar County Circuit Clerk or using the polling place lookup tool at yallvote.sos.ms.gov.

Mississippi election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase by qualified requesters under Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-47), campaign finance reports filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State and local election commissions, candidate qualifying documents, and precinct-level election results. These are accessible through the Mississippi Secretary of State Elections Division at sos.ms.gov/elections or through county election offices. In the November 2024 presidential election, Bolivar County reported approximately 10,500 ballots cast from roughly 19,000 registered voters, representing approximately 55% turnout.

On November 3, 2026, Cleveland and Bolivar County voters will participate in state and federal elections. Mississippi does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (the next gubernatorial election is 2027). However, voters will decide on U.S. Senator Roger Wicker's seat (Class I, up for election in 2026), Mississippi's U.S. House seat for the 2nd Congressional District (which includes Cleveland), and various state legislative races for the Mississippi House and Senate if redistricting places Cleveland in contested districts. County offices including Bolivar County Sheriff, Tax Assessor, Circuit Clerk, and Chancery Clerk may also be on the ballot depending on term schedules. Mississippi voters can request absentee ballots for specific qualifying reasons (age 65+, temporary or permanent disability, required absence from county on election day, election official, or required absence due to Mississippi Guard/military service) by submitting an absentee ballot application to the Circuit Clerk at least five business days before the election. Applications are available at the Circuit Clerk's office or online at sos.ms.gov.