Find Lincoln County Arrest Records

Lincoln County arrest records are held at the sheriff's office in Lincolnton, Georgia. This rural county along the Savannah River has about 8,000 people. The sheriff's office handles all bookings and keeps arrest data for the area. You can request records by calling, visiting in person, or searching state databases that include Lincoln County law enforcement data. Public access to initial arrest reports is protected under Georgia law, so most basic booking records are open for anyone to check.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Records

Sheriff Clay Smith leads the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. This is the main place to get arrest records in the county. The office handles all bookings, jail operations, and records requests for Lincoln County.

The mailing address is PO Box 970, Lincolnton, GA 30817. Call 706-760-7545 to ask about a current inmate or check on an arrest record. Walk-in visits are an option during business hours. Have the full name of the person you want to look up, and a date of birth if you have it. Lincoln County is a small area, so the office typically handles records requests quickly. For older arrest records, a written request may be needed. Staff can search by name or booking date. Being a smaller county, Lincoln County has fewer total records than larger areas, but the same Georgia rules about public access apply here.

State Databases for Lincoln County Arrests

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps a central criminal history system that covers Lincoln County. The Georgia Crime Information Center collects arrest data from all 159 Georgia counties. When someone is arrested in Lincoln County, the data enters this statewide network. More than 600 agencies report to the GCIC each month.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can request your own criminal history for a fee of up to $15. That record will include any Lincoln County arrests plus arrests from other counties. If you find an error, you have 60 days to challenge it. The GBI criminal history FAQ explains the full process. Mail requests go to CCH/Identification Services, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037.

Note: Allow 5 to 10 business days for mail requests to the GBI.

Lincoln County Jail and Booking Data

All arrests in Lincoln County go through the local jail for processing. Booking records include the name, charges, date, and a photo. These are public records under Georgia law. Call 706-760-7545 to check on a current inmate at the Lincoln County jail.

If a person was moved from the Lincoln County jail to a state prison, the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search lets you track them down. You can search by name or GDC ID. The tool shows facility location and basic case info. It does not cover people still in the Lincoln County jail. For felony conviction checks, the Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query. It needs a name, date of birth, and sex. Misdemeanor arrests from Lincoln County will not show up in this tool.

Arrest Record Laws in Lincoln County

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public a right to view arrest records. Initial arrest reports at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office must be released. Records from pending investigations can be held, but basic arrest data stays public. Violations of the act carry a fine up to $1,000 for a first offense.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, getting criminal history data under false pretenses is a crime with fines up to $5,000. Some Lincoln County arrest records can be restricted if the charges were dismissed or not sent to a grand jury. Guilty outcomes are never eligible for restriction. For pre-July 2013 arrests, apply in writing to the sheriff's office with a fee up to $50. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists Sheriff Clay Smith and all other Georgia sheriffs with their contact details.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lincoln County. Check where the arrest took place to search the right county.