Screven County Arrest Records Lookup

Screven County arrest records are maintained by the sheriff's office in Sylvania, Georgia. The county has about 14,000 residents and sits in the eastern part of the state. Sheriff Norman Royal leads local law enforcement and oversees the jail, bookings, and all arrest record keeping. You can reach the office by phone or go in person to get arrest information. The GBI's statewide criminal history system also stores Screven County arrest data. This page walks you through both options so you can find the records you are looking for.

Screven County Sheriff Arrest Records

Sheriff Norman Royal runs the Screven County Sheriff's Office at 202 Rocky Ford Road, Sylvania, GA 30467. The phone number is 912-564-2013. This is the first place to call when you need arrest records for anyone in Screven County. The sheriff's deputies handle all law enforcement in the county and process every arrest through the local jail. Walk-in requests for arrest records are accepted during regular hours.

When you contact the office, have the full name and date of birth of the person you want to check on. Staff can confirm if someone is in the Screven County jail and what they have been charged with. Records from past arrests that are part of the public file can also be pulled. Some older records may take additional time. The office does not have a web-based search tool at this time, so phone calls and in-person visits are how you get arrest record information here.

The sheriff's office also coordinates with local courts on warrants and case dispositions, so they can sometimes point you to the right place if what you need has moved to the court system.

Statewide Records for Screven County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation manages a central criminal history system that includes data from Screven County. Through the Georgia Crime Information Center, arrest records from every county get stored in a single database. Over 600 agencies send data to the GCIC monthly. When a Screven County deputy makes an arrest, the information enters this system automatically.

You can request your own criminal history record under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. The fee caps at $15. If you spot something wrong on the record, you have 60 days to ask for a correction. The GBI FAQ page explains how each step works.

Screven County Criminal History Access

For state-level searches that cover Screven County, the GBI website is the starting point. You can find links to criminal history services, the GCIC, and other databases from the homepage.

From this page you can access the sex offender registry, crime statistics, and fingerprint services. The Rapid ID system, which uses handheld fingerprint scanners, is available to officers in Screven County as well. It checks prints against state and federal databases in real time. The statewide GCIC network makes sure arrest data from Screven County links to the broader Georgia criminal justice system, giving you access no matter where you search from.

Note: GBI record searches carry a fee, and payments go through their online portal or by mail.

Screven County Jail Bookings

The Screven County jail processes all arrests made in the county. Booking records include the person's name, charges, arrest date, and usually a photo. These are public records. Call 912-564-2013 to check if someone is being held.

For people who have been moved to state prison, the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search lets you look them up by name or GDC ID. The GDC database covers state inmates only. People at the Screven County jail who have not been sent to a state facility will not appear. For bail and court dates, call the sheriff's office.

The GDC warns that their data is not always complete. Verify by writing to Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.

Arrest Record Laws in Screven County

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 requires that initial arrest reports be made available to the public. Screven County follows this law like every other county. Active investigation files may be exempt, but the base arrest report is never withheld.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, obtaining records under false pretenses is punishable by fines up to $5,000 and up to two years in prison. Negligent handling carries a $100 fine and up to 10 days. Record restriction is possible for some Screven County cases. If charges were dismissed or not presented to a grand jury, the arrest record may be sealed from public view under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Guilty outcomes cannot be restricted under any circumstances in Georgia.

Find Screven County Arrest Data

The Georgia Felon Search checks statewide for felony convictions. It costs $15 per search, with another $15 to see full details on a match. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex. Only felony convictions are returned. Misdemeanor arrests and restricted records do not show.

For all types of Screven County arrest records, the sheriff's office is the broadest source. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory can help you find contact info for any Georgia county. Mail requests to the GBI go to CCH/Identification Services, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. Plan on 5 to 10 business days for processing. Use the GBI Payment Portal for fees.

Nearby Counties

Screven County borders several counties in eastern Georgia. Make sure you know where the arrest took place before requesting records.