Rabun County Arrest Records

Rabun County arrest records are managed by the sheriff's office in the northeast Georgia mountains. The county seat is Clayton, and Sheriff Mark Gerrells oversees all local law enforcement operations. If you want to find an arrest record in this county, you can reach the sheriff's office by phone or stop by in person. Arrest records contain the charges, booking date, and personal details for each person taken into custody. About 17,000 people live in Rabun County. State databases through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation also store Rabun County arrest data, giving you more than one way to search.

Rabun County Sheriff Arrest Records

Sheriff Mark Gerrells runs the Rabun County Sheriff's Office. His office is the primary place to get arrest records in this part of Georgia. The office is at 56 Boen Creek Drive, Tiger, GA 30576. You can call 706-782-3612 for questions about arrests, bookings, or someone held in custody. The sheriff's deputies handle all law enforcement in the unincorporated parts of Rabun County, and the office keeps logs of every arrest made by local officers.

To get the best results when you call, have the full name and date of birth of the person ready. This helps staff pull up the right record quickly. The office can tell you if someone is in the Rabun County jail and what their charges are. Past arrest records that are part of the public file are also available on request. Some older files may take extra time to locate.

How to Search Rabun County Records

Searching for arrest records in Rabun County can be done in a few ways. The most direct path is calling or visiting the sheriff's office in Tiger. Staff will need a name and date of birth to look someone up. In-person visits let you see what is on file right away. Phone calls work too, though complex requests might need a follow-up.

You can also tap into state-level search tools. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the statewide criminal history system. Every arrest made in Rabun County feeds into this database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC collects data from all 159 Georgia counties. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, anyone can request their own criminal history for a fee of up to $15. This covers arrest records from Rabun County and the rest of the state. The GBI FAQ page explains how to make the request.

Note: The GBI office in Decatur requires appointments for record inspections. Same-day walk-ins are not accepted.

Georgia Criminal Records and Rabun County

The GCIC keeps a central database of arrest records from across the state. This includes arrests made in Rabun County. The Criminal Justice Information System connects sheriff offices, police departments, and courts statewide. When someone is arrested in Rabun County, the data goes into this system. Over 600 agencies report to the GCIC each month. You can start your search at the GBI website.

The GCIC page shows all the programs available, including fingerprint-based searches through the GAPS system and the Rapid ID program. Rapid ID lets officers use handheld fingerprint devices in the field. This helps law enforcement in Rabun County and across the state confirm identities during stops and other encounters. The system ties into both state and federal databases.

Rabun County Jail and Booking Details

The Rabun County jail is run by the sheriff's office. Every arrest in the county goes through this facility for processing. Booking creates a record that has the person's name, charges, date of arrest, and a photo in most cases. These booking records are public in Georgia.

Call 706-782-3612 to check if someone is in the Rabun County jail. Staff can share the person's status and current charges. Bail amounts may be available too. If the person was transferred to state prison after a conviction, you can use the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search to find them. The GDC search lets you look up inmates by name or ID number. It only covers people in state custody, not those still held at the county level.

The GDC database is a useful tool but has limits. It does not include people being held at the Rabun County jail before transfer to a state facility. The GDC recommends verifying their online data by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.

Arrest Record Laws in Rabun County

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 protects the public's right to access arrest records. Initial arrest reports are always available. This covers records at the Rabun County Sheriff's Office. Records from pending investigations can be held back, but the core arrest report must be released when asked for. There is no exception to this rule for any county in the state.

O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38 makes it a crime to request criminal history records under false pretenses. Fines go up to $5,000, and jail time can reach two years. Even careless sharing of this data carries a penalty of up to $100 and 10 days. In some cases, arrest records in Rabun County can be restricted from public view. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, charges that end in dismissal or are not presented to a grand jury may qualify for sealing. Guilty dispositions are never eligible for restriction.

Find Felony Records in Rabun County

The Georgia Felon Search is an option for checking felony convictions linked to Rabun County. Each search costs $15, and you pay even if nothing comes up. To see the full details on a match, that is another $15. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex. The tool only returns felony convictions. Misdemeanors and sealed records do not appear.

For a wider look at Rabun County arrest records, the sheriff's office is your best resource. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a directory of every county sheriff in the state. The GBI handles mail requests too. Send them to CCH/Identification Services, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. Plan for 5 to 10 business days. You can pay fees through the GBI Payment Portal.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Rabun County. If you are not sure where an arrest took place, check the address to find the right county.