Decatur County Arrest Records

Decatur County arrest records are available through the sheriff's office in Bainbridge, Georgia. This southwest Georgia county has about 26,000 residents and sits along the Florida border. Sheriff Wiley Griffin handles all bookings, jail operations, and records access. Arrest records in Decatur County are public documents under Georgia law. You can request them from the sheriff's office, through statewide databases run by the GBI, or by filing an open records request. This guide covers each option for accessing Decatur County arrest records.

Decatur County Sheriff Arrest Data

Sheriff Wiley Griffin runs the Decatur County Sheriff's Office at 912 Spring Creek Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817. This is where all arrest records in Decatur County begin. When someone is booked into the county jail, the sheriff's office creates a record that includes the person's name, charges, arrest date, and booking details. That data stays on file and also gets reported to the state through the GCIC system.

Call 229-248-3044 to ask about a Decatur County arrest record or check on a current jail inmate. You can walk in during regular hours with a photo ID. Staff search records by name or date. For copies of full arrest reports, send a written request. Include the person's name, date of birth, and any case details you have. Decatur County borders Florida, so some criminal cases involve cross-state issues, but the arrest record stays in the Georgia system regardless.

Note: Decatur County sits along the Florida border, and some arrests may involve coordination between Georgia and Florida law enforcement agencies.

State Criminal History for Decatur County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the central criminal history database. Decatur County arrest data feeds into this system. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, any person can inspect their own criminal history record for up to $15. This will show all Decatur County arrests on file with the state.

The Georgia Crime Information Center collects data from every county. The GBI FAQ page explains the process. Contact the Decatur County Sheriff's Office first for local records. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query and only returns felony convictions. Misdemeanor arrests from Decatur County will not appear. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting records under false pretenses is a crime with fines up to $5,000.

Decatur County Offender Search

The GDC Find Offender page covers inmates sentenced to state prison after a Decatur County arrest. Search by name or GDC ID. Photos show when available. The GDC Offender Query form gives a more direct lookup.

GDC does not guarantee accuracy. Verify info by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. This covers anyone originally arrested in Decatur County who is now in a Georgia state facility.

Open Records in Decatur County

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act makes government records public. Decatur County arrest reports are covered. Initial arrest reports cannot be withheld. File a written request with 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. Include the person's name and date range. Violations of the Open Records Act carry fines up to $1,000 for the first offense. Repeat violations within a year can bring up to $2,500.

Record Restriction in Decatur County

Certain Decatur County arrest records can be restricted under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Dismissed charges, no bills, and dead docket cases qualify. Restricted records are invisible to the public after that.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply through the sheriff's office with a fee up to $50. Later arrests go through the prosecutor. Guilty dispositions cannot be restricted. The GCIC handles the sealing. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry and the Sheriffs by County directory are useful Decatur County resources.

Note: The GCIC processes all Decatur County record restriction requests once the local authority gives approval.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Decatur County in southwest Georgia. Arrest records are filed in the county where the booking took place.