McDonough Arrest Records

McDonough arrest records come from the McDonough Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff's Office. McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, located south of Atlanta along the I-75 corridor. As the county seat, the courthouse and sheriff's main office are both here. The police department handles arrests within city limits, while the Henry County Sheriff runs the jail and manages all booking records. This page explains how to search for McDonough arrest records and what agencies hold the data you need.

McDonough Police Department

The McDonough Police Department is at 100 S Zack Hinton Pkwy, McDonough, GA 30253. Call 770-957-9121 for non-emergency matters. This is the main law enforcement agency for the city of McDonough. When officers make an arrest, the report is filed with the department. The arrested person is then moved to the Henry County jail for processing. Visit the McDonough city website for department contacts and general city information.

McDonough arrest records include the person's name, charges, date of the arrest, arresting officer, and identifying details like date of birth and physical description. These are the basic fields Georgia law requires. Each arrest gets reported to the Georgia Crime Information Center as part of the statewide system. Under the Open Records Act, the initial arrest report is a public record. You can request it from the McDonough PD with a written open records request.

Being the county seat, McDonough sees activity from both city residents and people who come to the courthouse area for court dates. This can add to the volume of arrests the department handles.

Henry County Sheriff Bookings

Sheriff Reginald Scandrett leads the Henry County Sheriff's Office at 120 Henry Pkwy, McDonough, GA 30253. The phone number is 770-288-7101. The Henry County Sheriff's website provides information about jail operations and services. All McDonough arrests that involve jail time are booked through the county system. The sheriff's office holds the booking record, mugshot, bond information, and custody details.

Henry County offers an online inmate search where you can look up people currently in the county jail. This is the quickest way to check on a recent McDonough arrest. Search by the person's name to see if they are currently held. The tool is free. For older records no longer in the active inmate system, contact the sheriff's office directly. They can pull older McDonough booking records with a written request.

How to Get McDonough Records

There are several ways to access McDonough arrest records. The best option depends on what you are looking for. For current jail bookings, start with the Henry County inmate search online. For the initial arrest report, file a written request with the McDonough Police Department.

Your written request should include the person's full name, the arrest date if known, and any case or report numbers. Send it to the police department at their S Zack Hinton Pkwy address. The department must respond within three business days under Georgia law. They may charge a small copy fee. Most single-record requests cost just a few dollars. If the record involves a sealed case, the department may deny it and explain the exemption.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles state-level criminal history requests. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can inspect your own Georgia criminal history for up to $15. Any McDonough arrests on file with the state would appear in that record. Contact the GBI at (404) 244-2639 to schedule an appointment. Their Decatur office does not accept walk-ins.

Note: Henry County also serves Stockbridge and other cities. Make sure your request specifies that you want records tied to a McDonough arrest.

State Resources for McDonough

The McDonough city website provides contact details for city departments including the police.

Several state databases may contain McDonough arrest information. The GBI criminal history FAQ outlines the steps for a state-level records request. The Georgia Felon Search is $15 per query and returns felony conviction data only. Misdemeanor arrests from McDonough will not appear. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex to run the search.

The GDC Find Offender tool searches the Georgia prison system. If a McDonough arrest led to a state prison sentence, the person would appear in GDC. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is free and lets you search for registered offenders by address in the McDonough area.

McDonough Record Restriction

Certain McDonough arrest records can be restricted under Georgia law. Record restriction covers cases that did not end in a conviction. If charges were dropped, dismissed, or never prosecuted, the person may qualify. Guilty pleas and convictions stay on the record and are not eligible for restriction.

The date of arrest determines where to apply. Arrests before July 1, 2013 go through the arresting agency, which is McDonough PD or the Henry County Sheriff. The fee can be up to $50. Arrests on or after July 1, 2013 go through the prosecuting attorney. Once restricted, the McDonough arrest record is hidden from public searches. Only law enforcement and courts can access it. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, unauthorized disclosure of restricted records carries a $5,000 fine.

Henry County Resources

McDonough is the county seat of Henry County. The courthouse, sheriff's office, and county jail are all based here. This makes it convenient to handle records requests in person.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near McDonough in the southern Atlanta metro area. Each city has its own police department but shares county-level jail systems.