Early County Arrest Records
Early County arrest records are held by the Sheriff's Office in Blakely, which is the county seat. With about 11,000 residents, Early County sits in southwest Georgia and handles all arrest records through local law enforcement. The Sheriff's Office books people into the county jail and keeps those records on file. You can search for Early County arrest records by reaching out to the sheriff or by using Georgia's state databases. This page walks through how to find arrest records, what they include, and where to get copies in Early County.
Early County Quick Facts
Early County Sheriff's Office Records
Sheriff William Price runs the Early County Sheriff's Office. This is the main place to get arrest records in the county. The office sits at 18610 E South Blvd in Blakely, GA 39823. You can call them at 229-723-3484 to ask about a specific arrest record or to find out how to get a copy. Walk-in requests are also an option during normal business hours.
When someone is arrested in Early County, the sheriff's staff creates a booking record. That record has the person's name, date of birth, the charges, the arrest date, and the arresting officer. This file stays with the Sheriff's Office and becomes part of the county's records. Arrest records in Early County are public under Georgia law unless a court has sealed or restricted them. You can ask for copies of these records in person or by mail.
| Sheriff | William Price |
|---|---|
| Address | 18610 E South Blvd, Blakely, GA 39823 |
| Phone | 229-723-3484 |
Note: Call the Early County Sheriff's Office ahead of time to confirm hours and any fees for copies of arrest records.
Georgia State Arrest Record Resources
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps the state criminal history database that covers all 159 counties, including Early County. The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center links local sheriff offices to a statewide system. You can request your own criminal history record through most sheriff's offices or police departments. The fee for a state criminal history check is up to $15 under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37.
The GBI criminal history FAQ page explains how to get records step by step. It covers what data shows up in a Georgia criminal history report. That report lists arrest data, charges, court results, and jail time if any. For Early County residents, the local sheriff's office can run this check for you. You need to show up in person with valid ID for a fingerprint-based search.
The screenshot below shows the GBI homepage, which is the starting point for state-level arrest record searches in Georgia.
The GBI site has links to all their criminal history services and contact info for record requests that cover Early County and every other county in the state.
How to Search Early County Arrest Records
There are a few ways to search for arrest records in Early County. The most direct way is to contact the sheriff's office in Blakely. You can call, write a letter, or go in person. When you call 229-723-3484, ask for the records division. They can tell you if a record exists and how to get a copy.
For a statewide search that includes Early County, you can use the Georgia Felon Search tool. This costs $15 per search. It checks for felony convictions tied to a person's name and date of birth. It will not show misdemeanor arrests or sealed records. If you find a match, you pay another $15 for the full record details. The search covers all of Georgia, so it picks up any case from Early County that resulted in a felony conviction.
The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free to use. It shows people who are or were in a GDC prison. If someone from Early County went to state prison, they show up in this system. You can search by name, GDC ID, or case number. This is useful if you need to track down a specific person tied to an Early County arrest.
Note: The Georgia Felon Search only shows felony convictions and does not include misdemeanor arrest records from Early County.
Arrest Record Restrictions in Early County
Georgia law allows certain arrest records to be restricted. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, if charges were dismissed, not presented to a grand jury, or ended with a not guilty verdict, the person can ask for the arrest to be sealed. The local law enforcement agency in Early County handles these requests with approval from the prosecutor. Once restricted, the arrest record is only available to law enforcement and courts.
For arrests that happened before July 1, 2013, the process is a bit different. You must submit a written request and pay a fee of up to $50. The Early County Sheriff's Office or the district attorney's office can guide you through this. Records that end in a guilty plea or conviction cannot be restricted. Only certain outcomes qualify for this under Georgia law.
Unauthorized access to criminal history records is a crime under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38. Getting records under false pretenses can bring a fine up to $5,000 and two years in jail. Even negligent sharing of records can lead to a $100 fine and up to 10 days in jail. This applies to anyone seeking Early County arrest records or records from anywhere in Georgia.
Early County Open Records Requests
Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), most government records in Early County are open to the public. This includes arrest reports and booking logs. Initial police arrest reports and incident reports are always public, even during an active investigation. You do not need to give a reason to request records. Anyone can ask.
To file an open records request in Early County, write to the Sheriff's Office or the county government. Put your request in writing and be specific about what you need. The agency has three business days to respond. They may charge for copies. Violations of the Open Records Act can result in fines. A first offense can bring a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $1,000. Additional violations within 12 months can lead to fines up to $2,500.
What Early County Arrest Records Show
An arrest record from Early County will have several key pieces of information. The record shows who was arrested, when it happened, and what charges were filed. It also lists the arresting agency and officer. If the case went to court, the record may include the final outcome.
A typical arrest record in Early County contains:
- Full name and date of birth of the person arrested
- Date and time of arrest
- Charges filed at the time of booking
- Arresting agency and officer name
- Bond amount if one was set
- Court disposition if the case has closed
The Georgia Crime Information Center stores a more detailed version that includes physical description data like height, weight, race, and sex. This state-level record pulls together all arrests across Georgia, not just those in Early County. If the person served time in a state prison, the GDC record will also show custody information for that Early County case.
Note: Court dispositions on arrest records may take time to update after a case closes in Early County.
More Resources for Early County Records
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact info for all 159 county sheriffs, including Early County. This is a good backup if you need to verify the sheriff's office phone number or address. The association represents every sheriff in the state and keeps its directory current.
The Georgia Crime Information Center page on the GBI website explains how the statewide criminal justice network works. Every arrest in Early County gets reported through this system. The GCIC connects local agencies to both state and federal law enforcement databases. If you want to understand how arrest records flow from the local level in Early County up to the state, this page lays it out.
For people looking for someone who may be on parole, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles runs a parolee search tool. You can search by name or GDC ID number. If a person from Early County was released on parole, this database may show their status. Partial name searches are allowed, which helps if you are not sure of the full name.
Cities in Early County
Blakely is the county seat and the largest city in Early County. All arrest records for cities in the county are processed through the Early County Sheriff's Office. Smaller communities like Damascus and Cedar Springs also fall under the county sheriff's jurisdiction for arrest records.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Early County. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check the location where the arrest took place. Each county keeps its own arrest records.