Colquitt County Arrest Records

Colquitt County arrest records are held at the sheriff's office in Moultrie, Georgia. Located in south Georgia, the county has about 46,000 residents. Sheriff Rod Howell manages jail bookings, arrest record storage, and public records requests. Arrest records in Colquitt County are public under state law. You can search for them through the sheriff's office, through the GBI's statewide database, or by making an open records request. This guide explains each method and points you to the right resources for getting Colquitt County arrest records.

Colquitt County Sheriff Arrest Data

Sheriff Rod Howell runs the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office from PO Box 188, Moultrie, GA 31776. The office is the primary place to get arrest records in Colquitt County. Every booking into the county jail generates a record that lists the person's name, charges, arrest date, and personal details. These records stay on file locally and get reported to the state system.

Call 229-616-7430 to check on an arrest record or ask about current jail inmates. Walk-in visits are accepted during normal hours with a photo ID. Staff search records by name or date. Written requests work best for copies of full arrest reports from Colquitt County. Include the person's full name, date of birth, and any case details you have. The office handles a moderate volume of bookings for a county of this size in south Georgia.

Colquitt County sits in the Southern Judicial Circuit. Felony cases that start with a local arrest move through the Superior Court system in Moultrie.

State Records for Colquitt County Arrests

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps the central criminal history database that covers Colquitt County. The Georgia Crime Information Center collects arrest data from all 159 counties. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can inspect your own criminal history for up to $15.

The GCIC page explains how the statewide system works. More than 600 law enforcement agencies report arrest data each month, including the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office. The GBI FAQ page covers the steps for getting your own record. Contact the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office first for local requests.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query. It only returns felony convictions. Colquitt County misdemeanor arrests will not show in this tool. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting criminal history under false pretenses brings a fine up to $5,000 and up to two years in prison.

Note: The GBI's GAPS fingerprinting service provides the most accurate verification for Colquitt County arrest records.

Colquitt County Offender Search

The GDC Find Offender page lets you search for anyone in state prison after a Colquitt County arrest. Enter a name or GDC ID. Photos display when available. You must agree to a disclaimer first.

Use the GDC Offender Query form for a direct database search. GDC does not guarantee accuracy. Write to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029 to verify information about anyone originally arrested in Colquitt County.

Open Records Requests in Colquitt County

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes government records public. Colquitt County arrest reports are covered by this law. Initial arrest reports cannot be held back. Submit a written request to the sheriff's office for copies of booking logs, arrest reports, or incident records.

The office has three business days to respond. Copy fees may apply. Be clear about what you need. Violations of the Open Records Act carry fines up to $1,000 for the first offense. Repeat violations within 12 months can bring fines up to $2,500.

Record Restriction in Colquitt County

Some Colquitt County arrest records qualify for restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Dismissed charges and dead docket cases can be sealed. Restricted records are only visible to criminal justice agencies after that.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply to the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office with a fee of up to $50. Later arrests go through the prosecutor. Guilty dispositions are never eligible. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry and the Sheriffs by County directory are useful tools for checking criminal justice info in Colquitt County.

Note: The GCIC processes all Colquitt County record restriction requests after local approval.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Colquitt County in south Georgia. Arrest records are kept in the county where the booking took place.