Appling County Arrest Records
Appling County arrest records are kept by the sheriff's office in Baxley, Georgia. If you need to look up an arrest or find out about a booking in this county, the sheriff is the main point of contact. Records include charges, arrest dates, and personal details for anyone taken into custody. Appling County sits in the southeast part of the state, and the sheriff's office handles all local law enforcement records. You can reach out by phone or visit in person to get arrest record information for this area. State databases through the GBI also hold Appling County arrest data.
Appling County Quick Facts
Appling County Sheriff Arrest Records
Sheriff Mark Melton runs the Appling County Sheriff's Office. His office is the primary source for arrest records in this part of Georgia. The office is at 560 Barnes Street, Suite B, Baxley, GA 31513. You can call them at 912-367-8120 for questions about arrest records or jail bookings. The sheriff's office manages the county jail and keeps logs of all arrests made by local deputies. Walk-in requests are accepted during normal business hours.
When you contact the Appling County Sheriff's Office, have the full name and date of birth of the person you want to look up. This helps staff find the right arrest record fast. The office can tell you if someone is in custody at the Appling County jail. They can also give you details on past arrests that are part of the public record. Not all records are available right away. Some may take a few days to pull from older files.
| Sheriff | Mark Melton |
|---|---|
| Address | 560 Barnes Street, Suite B, Baxley, GA 31513 |
| Phone | 912-367-8120 |
How to Search Appling County Records
There are a few ways to search for arrest records in Appling County. The most direct method is to call or visit the sheriff's office in Baxley. You can ask about current inmates, recent bookings, or past arrest records. Staff will need a name and date of birth to run a search. In-person visits let you see what is on file right then and there.
You can also use state-level tools to find Appling County arrest records. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal history system. The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center holds records from all 159 counties, including Appling. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, any person can ask to see their own criminal history record for a fee of up to $15. This covers arrest data from Appling County and every other county in the state. The GBI criminal history FAQ page walks you through the steps to get your record.
Note: Same-day appointments at the GBI lobby office in Decatur are not available, so call ahead if you plan to go in person.
Georgia Criminal History in Appling County
The Georgia Crime Information Center keeps a central database of arrest records from across the state. This includes all arrests made in Appling County. The GCIC network connects local sheriff offices, police departments, courts, and jails through the Criminal Justice Information System. When someone is arrested in Appling County, that data goes into the statewide system. More than 600 agencies report to the GCIC each month.
The GBI website is the starting point for anyone looking into criminal history records tied to Appling County at the state level.
From this page you can access criminal history services, the sex offender registry, and crime data reports that may include Appling County data. The GBI also runs the Rapid ID system, which lets officers check fingerprints with handheld devices in the field. This tool helps law enforcement in Appling County confirm identities during traffic stops and other encounters.
Appling County Jail and Booking Info
The Appling County jail is run by the sheriff's office. All bookings go through this facility. When someone is arrested in Appling County, they are brought to the jail for processing. Booking creates a record that includes the person's name, charges, arrest date, and a photo. These booking records are part of the public record in Georgia.
To check if someone is in the Appling County jail, call 912-367-8120. Staff can tell you if a person is being held and what the charges are. Bail amounts and court dates may also be available. If the person has been transferred to a state facility, the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search can help you find them. The GDC search lets you look up inmates by name or ID number.
The GDC database covers inmates in state prisons and facilities. It does not include people held at the Appling County jail who have not been sent to state custody yet.
Note: You should verify GDC information by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029 before relying on it.
Arrest Record Laws in Appling County
Georgia law gives the public a right to access arrest records. The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 covers this. Initial police arrest reports and incident reports must be released to anyone who asks. This applies to all records held by the Appling County Sheriff's Office. Pending investigation records may be withheld, but the basic arrest report is always public.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, it is a crime to get criminal history records under false pretenses. The fine can go up to $5,000 with up to two years in prison. Even careless sharing of arrest record data carries a fine of up to $100 and up to 10 days in jail. Record restriction is also an option in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain arrest charges can be sealed from public view if the case was dismissed or not presented to a grand jury. Guilty results are never eligible for restriction in Appling County or anywhere else in Georgia.
Get Arrest Records in Appling County
If you want to check for felony convictions tied to someone in Appling County, the Georgia Felon Search is one option. This tool costs $15 per search. You pay even if there is no match. A second $15 fee applies if you want to view the details. The search needs the person's first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. It only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanor arrests and sealed records will not show up.
For Appling County arrest records that include all charges, the sheriff's office is your best bet. You can also ask the Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory to find the right contact for Appling County. The GCIC at the GBI handles requests by mail or by appointment. Send written requests to CCH/Identification Services, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. Allow 5 to 10 business days for a response. Fees are paid through the GBI Payment Portal.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Appling County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where the arrest took place.