Calhoun County Arrest Records

Calhoun County arrest records are held at the sheriff's office in Morgan, Georgia. This small county in southwest Georgia has a population of about 6,000 people. The sheriff's office handles all bookings, jail intake, and arrest data for the county. You can request arrest records by visiting the office, calling by phone, or using state-level search tools that pull data from Calhoun County law enforcement. Public access to these records falls under Georgia law, and most initial arrest reports are open for anyone to view.

Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Records

Sheriff Josh Hilton runs the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. This office is the main place to get arrest records in Calhoun County. Staff handle bookings, jail operations, and criminal records requests for the area. When someone is taken into custody in Calhoun County, the arrest details go into the sheriff's system and are later sent to the state.

The sheriff's office sits at PO Box 211, Morgan, GA 39866. You can call 229-849-2555 to ask about an arrest record or check on a current inmate in Calhoun County. Walk-in visits are also an option during normal business hours. Bring a valid ID with you if you plan to request records in person. The staff can search by name or booking date. For older Calhoun County arrest records, you may need to file a written request. Response times can vary based on how busy the office is and how far back the record goes.

Note: Calhoun County arrest records that led to a dismissal or no bill may be restricted from public view under state law.

State Databases for Calhoun County Arrests

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps a statewide criminal history database that includes Calhoun County arrest records. The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center collects arrest data from every county. You can request your own record through the GCIC for a fee of up to $15. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, any person can ask to see their own Georgia criminal history, which would include any Calhoun County arrests on file. If something looks wrong, you have 60 days to challenge it.

The GBI criminal history FAQ page covers how to get arrest records from anywhere in Georgia, including Calhoun County.

The GBI site links to criminal history services, the sex offender registry, and crime data that may include Calhoun County information. For felony conviction checks, the Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query. It covers felony convictions only and will not show misdemeanor arrests in Calhoun County. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex to run this search. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting criminal history data under false pretenses is a crime that can result in a fine up to $5,000.

Calhoun County Offender and Inmate Search

If a Calhoun County arrest led to a prison sentence, the Georgia Department of Corrections tracks that person in its system. The GDC Find Offender page lets you search for inmates by name or GDC ID number. This tool shows where an offender is held, their photo if one is on file, and basic case info. You must agree to a disclaimer before using the search.

The search results show current facility location for anyone originally arrested in Calhoun County and later sentenced to state prison. You can also use the GDC Offender Query form for a more direct database lookup. GDC does not guarantee accuracy, so verify any info by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029 before making assumptions about a Calhoun County arrest record.

Calhoun County Open Records Requests

Georgia's Open Records Act gives the public a right to see government records. This includes arrest records in Calhoun County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most records held by public agencies are open for inspection. Initial arrest reports are not exempt. You can file an open records request with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office to get copies of booking logs, arrest reports, and other law enforcement documents.

Put your request in writing. State what records you want and the time frame. The office has three business days to respond. They can charge a reasonable fee for copies. Records tied to an ongoing investigation may be held back, but the initial arrest report must still be released in Calhoun County. If your request is denied and you believe it should not have been, the law allows you to challenge the decision. Violations of the Open Records Act can bring a fine of up to $1,000 for the first offense.

Note: Calhoun County may take longer to process older arrest record requests that require searching archived files.

Arrest Record Restriction in Calhoun County

Some Calhoun County arrest records can be restricted from public view. This applies when the charges were dismissed, not presented to a grand jury, or placed on a dead docket. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, a restricted arrest record is only visible to criminal justice agencies after that point. The public cannot see it through normal channels.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, you can apply to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office in writing and pay a fee of up to $50. Arrests after that date go through the prosecutor's office. Guilty pleas or convictions are never eligible for restriction in Calhoun County or anywhere else in Georgia. The GCIC handles the actual sealing of the record once the request is approved. If you think an old Calhoun County arrest should be restricted, start by calling the sheriff's office at 229-849-2555 to ask about the process.

Calhoun County Criminal Justice Registries

Several state registries may include people originally arrested in Calhoun County. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry tracks convicted sex offenders across the state. It is free to search and shows photos, addresses, and offense details. The GBI maintains this registry under O.C.G.A. § 42-1-12.

The registry lets you search by name or location, which is useful if you want to check for registered offenders in Calhoun County. The Georgia Sheriffs by County directory is another helpful tool. It lists Sheriff Josh Hilton and every other Georgia sheriff with contact details. Use it if you need to reach the Calhoun County office or any neighboring sheriff about arrest records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Calhoun County. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check the location where it took place. Arrest records are kept by the county where the person was booked.