Dade County Arrest Records

Dade County arrest records are kept at the sheriff's office in Trenton, Georgia. This northwest Georgia county has about 16,000 residents and sits in the Chattanooga metropolitan area along the Alabama and Tennessee borders. Sheriff Ray Cross oversees all bookings, jail operations, and records access. Arrest records from Dade County are public under Georgia law. You can find them through the sheriff's office, through GBI databases, or by submitting an open records request. This page covers each option.

Dade County Sheriff Arrest Records

Sheriff Ray Cross leads the Dade County Sheriff's Office at 75 Case Avenue, Trenton, GA 30752. This is the primary source for arrest records in Dade County. Each booking creates a record with the person's name, charges, arrest date, and other details. The data stays on file locally and gets reported to the state system.

Call 706-657-3233 to ask about a Dade County arrest record or check on someone in the jail. Walk-in visits are accepted during business hours if you bring a valid photo ID. Staff can look up records by name or date. Written requests work best for copies of full arrest reports. Dade County sits in the far northwest corner of Georgia, bordered by Alabama on one side and Tennessee on the other. This means some criminal cases involve cross-state issues, but the Dade County arrest record stays in the Georgia system.

Note: Dade County's location at the tri-state area means some arrests may involve coordination with Alabama or Tennessee law enforcement.

Georgia State Records for Dade County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps the central criminal history database that includes Dade County arrest records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, any person can request their own criminal history for up to $15. This would show any Dade County arrests on file with the state.

The GBI Payment Portal handles online payments for criminal history services. The GBI FAQ page explains the full process. Start with the Dade County Sheriff's Office for local records. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query and covers only felony convictions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting records under false pretenses is a crime with penalties up to $5,000 in fines.

Dade County Offender Search

The GDC Find Offender page lets you search for anyone in state prison after a Dade County arrest. Enter a name or GDC ID. Photos display when on file. The GDC Offender Query form offers a direct database lookup.

GDC makes no guarantee on accuracy. Verify any info by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. The department tracks all inmates in Georgia facilities, including those originally booked in Dade County.

Dade County Open Records Access

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act gives the public the right to inspect government records. Dade County arrest reports fall under this law. Initial arrest reports cannot be withheld. Submit a written request to the sheriff's office for copies.

The office has three business days to respond. Fees for copies may apply. Include the person's name and a date range. Dade County is a smaller office, so most requests can be processed in a timely manner. Violations of the Open Records Act carry a fine up to $1,000 for the first offense.

Record Restriction in Dade County

Some Dade County arrest records qualify for restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Charges that were dismissed, not prosecuted, or dead docketed can be sealed from public view. Restricted records are invisible to the public. Only law enforcement can access them.

For Dade County arrests before July 1, 2013, write to the sheriff's office with a fee of up to $50. Later arrests go through the prosecutor. Guilty dispositions cannot be restricted. The GCIC processes the actual restriction. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry tracks registered offenders near Dade County.

Note: Restricted Dade County arrest records will not show up in any public database after the GCIC processes the restriction.

Nearby Counties

Dade County borders these counties in northwest Georgia. Arrest records are filed where the person was booked.