Find Emanuel County Arrest Records
Emanuel County arrest records are available through the Sheriff's Office in Swainsboro. About 23,000 people live in this central Georgia county. The sheriff manages all bookings at the county jail and keeps arrest records on file for public access. You can search Emanuel County arrest records by contacting the office directly or by using Georgia's statewide databases. This page covers the steps for finding these records and what to expect when you request them.
Emanuel County Quick Facts
Emanuel County Sheriff's Office Records
Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer runs the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 703, Swainsboro, GA 30401. You can call 478-237-7526 for questions about arrest records. The office handles all jail bookings and maintains arrest records for the county.
When law enforcement in Emanuel County makes an arrest, a booking record is created at the jail. This record documents the person's name, date of birth, the charges, the time of arrest, and the arresting officer. Bond information is added if a bond is set. All of this becomes part of the Emanuel County arrest record. These records are public under Georgia law, which means anyone can request copies. There may be a fee for paper copies.
| Sheriff | Jeffrey Brewer |
|---|---|
| Address | PO Box 703, Swainsboro, GA 30401 |
| Phone | 478-237-7526 |
Note: Call ahead to the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office to confirm what info you need to bring for a records request.
State Databases Covering Emanuel County
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the state criminal history system. Arrests in Emanuel County are reported to the GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center. This links all 159 county sheriff offices to one central database. You can get your own criminal history through the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office by showing up with a valid ID.
The Georgia Felon Search is another option. It costs $15 per search and shows felony convictions statewide. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex. If there is a felony conviction from Emanuel County, it will be in this system. Misdemeanor arrests and sealed records will not show up. For people in state prison, the GDC offender search is free and covers all state inmates.
Below is a screenshot of the GCIC information page. The GCIC is the backbone of Georgia's criminal justice data system and handles arrest records from Emanuel County and every other county.
The GCIC provides 24/7 access to criminal justice data for law enforcement agencies across Georgia, including the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office.
Emanuel County Record Restrictions
Some arrest records in Emanuel County can be restricted. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows this for charges that were dismissed, not prosecuted, or resulted in acquittal. The sheriff's office processes these requests with the prosecutor's sign-off. A restricted record is sealed from public view. Only courts and law enforcement retain access.
Arrests from before July 1, 2013 follow a different track. The person files a written request and pays up to $50. Not every case qualifies. Convictions and guilty pleas are never eligible for restriction in Emanuel County. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting records under false pretenses can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and two years of jail time.
Open Records Requests in Emanuel County
Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), arrest records from Emanuel County are public. You can request them without giving a reason. Initial police arrest reports are always available, even during an active case. File your request in writing to the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office.
The office has three business days to respond to your request. They can charge a reasonable fee for copies. If they deny access, they must explain why in writing. Agencies that violate the Open Records Act can face fines up to $1,000 for a first offense. Within 12 months, additional violations can bring fines up to $2,500.
Note: Written requests get processed faster than phone calls for Emanuel County arrest records.
What Emanuel County Records Include
An arrest record from Emanuel County will show the standard information tied to a booking. The person's name, date of birth, and description are listed. Charges at the time of arrest are shown along with the arresting officer and agency. Bond details appear if a bond was set. Court outcomes may be added later once the case is resolved.
A typical Emanuel County arrest record lists:
- Full name and date of birth
- Physical description
- Charges and arrest date
- Arresting officer and agency
- Bond amount
The statewide GCIC record is more thorough. It combines arrest data from all counties, so a person with arrests in both Emanuel County and another part of Georgia will have everything in one file. The GCIC keeps this system running around the clock for law enforcement use.
More Emanuel County Resources
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps an up-to-date directory of every county sheriff. Use it to verify contact details for the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles also runs a parolee search if you need to check whether someone from Emanuel County is on parole.
Cities in Emanuel County
Swainsboro is the county seat of Emanuel County. Twin City and Adrian are also within the county. All arrest records for these communities are handled by the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office. No cities in Emanuel County qualify for separate pages based on population.
Nearby Counties
Emanuel County is surrounded by several other counties in central Georgia. Each keeps its own arrest records at the local sheriff's office.