Search Lanier County Arrest Records

Lanier County arrest records are held at the sheriff's office in Lakeland, Georgia. This small south Georgia county has about 11,000 residents. The sheriff's office processes all arrests and keeps booking logs for the area. You can request arrest records by calling, visiting, or using state tools that pull data from Lanier County. Public access to initial arrest reports falls under Georgia law, and most of those records are open for anyone to view. Statewide databases through the GBI also hold Lanier County arrest information.

Lanier County Sheriff Arrest Records

Sheriff Nick Norton runs the Lanier County Sheriff's Office. His office is the first stop for anyone looking for arrest records in this part of Georgia. The office handles jail operations, bookings, and criminal records requests for the whole county. When someone is taken into custody in Lanier County, their arrest data goes into the local system and then to the state.

The office address is 63 West Church Street, Lakeland, GA 31635. Call 229-482-3545 to ask about arrest records or to check if someone is in the Lanier County jail. Walk-in visits work too during business hours. Bring your ID and know the full name of the person you want to look up. A date of birth makes the search go faster. Older records might take a written request and a few extra days. Staff can search by name or booking date for Lanier County arrest records.

Note: Some Lanier County arrest records from dismissed cases may be restricted from public view under state law.

Georgia State Databases for Lanier County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps a central criminal history database that includes Lanier County. The Georgia Crime Information Center collects arrest data from every county in the state. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can ask to see your own criminal history record for up to $15. This will show any Lanier County arrests on file along with records from other counties.

The GCIC runs the Criminal Justice Information System that connects sheriff offices, police departments, courts, and jails statewide. Over 600 agencies report arrest data to this system each month. Lanier County arrest records flow into this network when deputies process a booking. The GBI FAQ page explains how to get records, what they contain, and how to fix errors if you spot them.

Lanier County Jail Booking Info

The Lanier County jail sits in Lakeland and is run by the sheriff's office. All local arrests go through this facility. Booking creates a record that includes the person's name, the charges, the arrest date, and a mugshot. These are public records in Georgia.

To find out if someone is in the Lanier County jail right now, call 229-482-3545. Staff can give you the charges and bail info. If a person was sentenced to state prison after a Lanier County arrest, the GDC offender search lets you find them by name or ID. The GDC database covers state facilities only. People still held at the Lanier County jail are not in the GDC system yet. You can also try the GDC Offender Query form for a direct lookup. Always verify GDC data by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.

Arrest Record Laws for Lanier County

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public the right to see government records, and this includes arrest records in Lanier County. Initial arrest reports are not exempt from disclosure. You can ask the Lanier County Sheriff's Office for copies of booking logs and arrest reports. They have three business days to respond to a written request.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, obtaining arrest records through false pretenses carries a fine up to $5,000 and up to two years in prison. Even careless handling of this data can bring a $100 fine. Lanier County arrest records that ended in a dismissal or no bill can be restricted. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, a restricted record is only visible to law enforcement and courts. Guilty results never qualify for restriction in Lanier County or anywhere in Georgia.

Get Lanier County Arrest Records

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query and checks for felony convictions. You need a name, date of birth, and sex. It does not show misdemeanor arrests from Lanier County. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists Sheriff Nick Norton and provides contact info for all 159 Georgia sheriffs. Use this to reach Lanier County or any other county about arrest records.

Fees for state-level record requests can be paid through the GBI Payment Portal. Mail requests go to CCH/Identification Services, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. Allow 5 to 10 business days for a response. For Lanier County arrest records covering all charge types, the sheriff's office in Lakeland is still the most direct route.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lanier County. Check where the arrest happened to make sure you are looking in the right place.