Albany Arrest Records Search

Albany arrest records are maintained by the Albany Police Department and the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office. Albany is the largest city in southwest Georgia, with a population of about 67,000. The police department handles arrests within city limits and creates the initial arrest reports. The Dougherty County Sheriff runs the county jail and processes bookings. Searching for Albany arrest records requires knowing which agency you need to contact. Both offices keep their own set of records tied to arrests in the area.

Albany Police Department Records

The Albany Police Department is at 201 W Oglethorpe Blvd, Albany, GA 31701. The non-emergency number is 229-431-2100. APD officers patrol the city and handle arrests within Albany's borders. When an officer makes an arrest, the department creates a report with the person's name, charges, date, and all the other details that Georgia law requires. The City of Albany website has information about the police department and other city services.

After an arrest, the person goes to the Dougherty County jail for booking. The jail processes the intake and creates its own records. So the arrest report is with APD, and the booking records are with the sheriff. If you need to know about an arrest that happened in Albany, you may need to contact both agencies. For just the arrest report, start with APD. For jail and booking data, go to the Dougherty County Sheriff.

Albany is the hub of southwest Georgia. The police department serves the city itself, while the Dougherty County Sheriff covers the broader county area. This means some arrests just outside Albany city limits belong to the sheriff rather than APD.

How to Get Albany Arrest Records

Call APD at 229-431-2100 to ask about a specific arrest record. You can also visit the Oglethorpe Boulevard office in person during business hours. For a formal request, put it in writing. Georgia's Open Records Act says initial arrest reports are public and cannot be withheld. The department has three business days to respond to a written request.

In your request, include the person's full name, the date of arrest if you know it, and any case or report numbers. That helps staff find the right record faster. The department can charge a reasonable fee for copies. For older Albany arrest records, expect a longer wait. Files from several years ago may need to be pulled from archives. Booking records require a separate request to the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office.

Note: Albany and Dougherty County are separate governments, so you may need to file requests with each agency.

State Databases for Albany Arrests

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal history system through the Georgia Crime Information Center. Albany arrest records enter this database through the Dougherty County system. More than 600 agencies across Georgia report arrest data to the GCIC each month.

The GBI site is the starting point for statewide arrest record searches. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can request your own criminal history for up to $15. That includes any Albany arrests. Contact the GCIC at (404) 244-2639 for an appointment. If you find errors, you get 60 days to challenge the information.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query and only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanor Albany arrests will not show. The GDC offender search covers people in state prisons. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, getting records under false pretenses is a crime punishable by a fine up to $5,000 and up to two years in prison.

The GDC database shows current facility assignments, photos, and basic case data for Georgia inmates.

Albany Arrest Record Restriction

Georgia law allows restriction of some arrest records. If charges ended in a dismissal, nolle prosequi, or dead docket, the arrest record may qualify for restriction. Restricted records are hidden from the public. Only law enforcement and courts can see them after that.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply in writing to APD or the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, depending on which agency made the arrest. The fee is up to $50. After that date, the prosecutor handles it. Guilty pleas and convictions cannot be restricted. Call 229-431-2100 if you have questions about how to restrict an Albany arrest record.

Albany Criminal Registries

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry tracks offenders in Albany and Dougherty County. It is free to search by name or by area. The Georgia Sheriffs by County directory lists every Georgia sheriff with office contact information, including the Dougherty County sheriff.

Albany County Resources

Albany sits in Dougherty County. The county sheriff handles jail bookings and maintains inmate records for the area.

Nearby Cities

Albany is in southwest Georgia. There are no other qualifying cities nearby. Use state databases to search arrest records across the rest of the state.