Open records requests in Mississippi

How the Mississippi Public Records Act works

Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq.) provides any person the right to inspect and copy public records of all public bodies, including state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other governmental entities. The law establishes a presumption of openness and requires agencies to provide access during normal business hours. Like several states, Mississippi does not specify a mandatory response deadline, instead requiring agencies to respond within a "reasonable time." No fee may be charged for inspecting records, though copying fees at a reasonable rate are permitted.

Mississippi's Ethics Commission has jurisdiction over certain public records complaints and may issue advisory opinions. Disputes may be resolved through chancery or circuit court proceedings, where courts may award attorney's fees to a prevailing requester if the denial was without reasonable basis. Common exemptions include personnel files, tax records, medical records, and records of ongoing criminal investigations. Mississippi's enforcement mechanisms are regarded as relatively limited compared to many other states.