Athens Arrest Records
Athens arrest records are maintained by the Clarke County Sheriff's Office under the Athens-Clarke County consolidated government. With roughly 130,000 people and a large university campus, Athens generates a steady volume of arrest data throughout the year. The sheriff handles all law enforcement for the merged city-county area, including arrests, jail bookings, and records storage. If you are looking for arrest records in Athens, the Clarke County Sheriff's Office is the primary source. State databases also hold Athens arrest data that gets entered through the county system.
Athens Quick Facts
Clarke County Sheriff and Athens Arrests
Sheriff John Williams heads the Clarke County Sheriff's Office. The office is at 325 E Washington Street, Suite 100, Athens, GA 30601. The phone number is 706-613-3250. Under the consolidated government, the sheriff is the only law enforcement agency for the Athens-Clarke County area. There is no separate city police department.
When someone gets arrested in Athens, the sheriff's office handles every step. Officers make the arrest, take the person to the Clarke County jail, and process the booking. The jail creates a record with the person's name, charges, arresting officer, and the date and time. These records become part of the county's files and also get sent to the state criminal history system. Athens arrest records include all the standard data fields that Georgia law requires: identification data, arrest details, court dispositions, and custodial information if the person went to a state facility later on.
The University of Georgia campus sits within Athens-Clarke County. Arrests on campus may involve the UGA Police Department, but those cases still flow through the Clarke County system for booking. The sheriff's office coordinates with campus police on arrests that happen in the university area.
How to Get Athens Arrest Records
Call the Clarke County Sheriff's Office at 706-613-3250. Ask about the record you need. For a copy of an arrest report, file a written open records request. Georgia's Open Records Act says initial arrest reports must be released. The office has three business days to respond.
In your request, include the full name of the person, the date of the arrest if you know it, and any case numbers. The office can charge for copies. Walk-in visits at 325 E Washington Street work during business hours. Bring a valid ID. For older Athens arrest records, the staff may need to pull files from the archive, which takes extra time. Written requests are the best route when you need records that go back more than a year or two.
State Databases for Athens Arrests
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal history system that includes Athens arrest data. The Georgia Crime Information Center connects all 159 counties through a computer network. Clarke County feeds arrest records into this system every time a booking happens.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can request your own criminal history for a fee of up to $15. That record would include any Athens arrests. Contact the GCIC at (404) 244-2639 to schedule an appointment at their Decatur office. You cannot walk in without one. If something on your record is wrong, you have 60 days to file a challenge.
The GCIC page describes how the statewide network works and what data it collects from agencies like the Clarke County Sheriff. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query and only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanor arrests from Athens will not appear. The GDC Find Offender page lets you search for people currently in Georgia state prisons.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, anyone who requests arrest records under false pretenses faces a fine of up to $5,000 and up to two years in prison. The law treats these records seriously.
The GDC database covers inmates currently held in state correctional facilities across Georgia.
Athens Arrest Record Restriction
Georgia law allows some arrest records to be sealed from public view. If charges were dismissed, not presented to a grand jury, or placed on a dead docket, the arrest record may be restricted. Once sealed, only courts and criminal justice agencies can see it. Convictions are never eligible.
For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply in writing to the Clarke County Sheriff's Office. The fee is up to $50. After that date, restriction requests go through the prosecutor's office. The GCIC processes the actual restriction once it is approved. Call 706-613-3250 to ask about the process for an Athens arrest record.
Athens Criminal Registries
The Georgia Sex Offender Registry tracks registered offenders living in Athens and Clarke County. You can search by name or by area. The Georgia Sheriffs by County directory lists Sheriff John Williams with his office contact info. This directory covers all 159 Georgia sheriffs and is a good resource for finding who handles arrest records in any county.
Note: The University of Georgia campus falls within the Athens-Clarke County jurisdiction for arrest record purposes.
Athens County Resources
Athens and Clarke County merged into a single consolidated government. The sheriff's office handles all arrest records for the area.
Nearby Cities
Athens is in northeast Georgia. There are no other qualifying cities in the immediate area, but state databases let you search arrest records from anywhere in Georgia.