Find Dodge County Arrest Records

Dodge County arrest records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Eastman, which is the county seat. With around 20,000 people, Dodge County is a mid-size county in south-central Georgia. The sheriff runs the jail and books all arrests in the county. You can search for Dodge County arrest records through the sheriff's office or through state-level databases run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. This guide covers the steps to find records, what they hold, and what fees to expect when you request arrest data from Dodge County.

Dodge County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Brian Robinson runs law enforcement for Dodge County. The office is at 85 Industrial Blvd, Eastman, GA 31023. Call 478-559-1130 for questions about arrest records or jail bookings. This is the main agency that handles all arrests in the county. City police in Eastman may make arrests too, but the booking goes through the county jail.

When someone gets arrested in Dodge County, the sheriff's office processes the intake. The jail logs the person's name, date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, and other ID data. Charges are listed along with the arresting officer and the date of the arrest. This is all part of the Dodge County arrest record. If a court later rules on the case, that disposition gets added to the file. The record stays in the system unless it qualifies for restriction under Georgia law. You can ask the sheriff's office for a copy of any public arrest record on file.

Note: The sheriff's office may charge a small fee for copies of arrest records.

How to Search Dodge County Arrest Records

Start with the sheriff's office. Call or visit in person to ask about a specific arrest. You will need the full name of the person and an approximate date. Written requests work too. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, initial arrest reports are public. The sheriff has three business days to respond to your request.

For a broader search, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the state criminal history system through the Georgia Crime Information Center. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, anyone can request to inspect their own Georgia criminal history record. The fee is up to $15. That record would include any Dodge County arrests. Contact the GBI at (404) 244-2639 to set up an appointment at the GCIC office in Decatur. Same-day appointments are not available there.

You can also get a copy of your Dodge County arrest record from most sheriff's offices or police departments in Georgia. The GBI criminal history FAQ explains the steps in detail. Each agency may have its own form and fee, but the process is the same statewide.

State Databases for Dodge County

Georgia runs several databases that pull in arrest data from all 159 counties, including Dodge County. The Georgia Crime Information Center connects police departments, sheriff offices, courts, and jails through the Criminal Justice Information System network. Dodge County arrest records flow into this system at booking time.

The GBI site links to criminal history services, the sex offender registry, and crime statistics for all of Georgia. For felony checks, the Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query. It only returns felony convictions. Misdemeanor arrests from Dodge County will not show up. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex to run this search. A match does not confirm identity since the search is name-based only.

The GDC Find Offender tool lets you search for people currently in Georgia state prisons. If a Dodge County arrest led to a state prison sentence, that person could appear in the GDC system. You can search by name, GDC ID, or case number.

The GDC system shows facility locations, photos when available, and basic case data for inmates across Georgia.

Dodge County Arrest Record Restriction

Georgia law allows certain arrest records to be sealed from public view. This is called record restriction. It applies when charges were dismissed, not presented to a grand jury, nolle prossed, or placed on a dead docket. A guilty plea or conviction cannot be restricted.

For arrests that happened before July 1, 2013, you apply directly to the arresting agency in Dodge County. The fee is up to $50. For arrests after that date, the request goes through the prosecutor's office. Once restricted, a Dodge County arrest record is only visible to courts and law enforcement agencies. The general public cannot see it. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting criminal history data under false pretenses can lead to a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to two years.

What Dodge County Arrest Records Contain

A Dodge County arrest record has several parts. The first is identification data. That means name, date of birth, social security number, sex, race, height, and weight. Next comes the arrest data. This shows the arresting agency, the date of the arrest, and what charges were filed. If the case went to court, the final disposition gets added. That could be guilty, not guilty, dismissed, or any other outcome. If the person served time in a Georgia prison, custodial information also appears on the record.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact info for all 159 county sheriffs, including Dodge County. This can help if you need to reach the office or verify the address.

Open Records Requests in Dodge County

Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), most government records are open to the public. Initial arrest reports and incident reports are not exempt. You can file a written request with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. Be specific. Include the person's full name and the approximate date of the arrest. The agency has three business days to respond or explain why it needs more time.

Some records may be partially redacted. Active investigation files can be withheld until the case is closed. But the initial arrest report itself is almost always available. The agency can charge a reasonable fee for copies. If your request is denied, you can appeal or contact the Georgia Attorney General's office for guidance.

Note: Juvenile arrest records are not available through the sheriff's office and must be requested from the Juvenile Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dodge County. Each has its own sheriff's office and arrest records system.