Tift County Arrest Records

Tift County arrest records are available through the sheriff's office in Tifton, Georgia. Tift County has about 41,000 people and sits in south-central Georgia along the Interstate 75 corridor. The sheriff's office manages all local arrest data, jail bookings, and inmate records. If you want to look up a specific arrest, check on who is in custody, or get a copy of an arrest report, the sheriff's office in Tifton handles those requests. State databases through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation hold Tift County arrest data as well, giving you another way to search.

Tift County Sheriff Arrest Data

Sheriff Gene Scarbrough heads the Tift County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 46, Tifton, GA 31793. Call (229) 388-6054 for arrest record inquiries. The office handles all bookings, current inmate checks, and public record requests for local arrests. As one of the busier counties in south Georgia, Tift County processes a steady stream of arrests.

Have the person's full name and date of birth when you make your request. This helps staff locate the right record quickly. You can call, visit during business hours, or send a written request by mail. The Tifton Police Department handles arrests within city limits, so if the arrest happened in the city, you might want to check with them too. For county-level arrests outside the city, the sheriff's office is the right place.

Ways to Search Tift County Arrest Records

Calling the sheriff's office is the fastest local method. For state searches, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains criminal history records from all 159 counties. The Georgia Crime Information Center pulls all of this data together in one system.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, any person can request their own criminal history record for up to $15. This covers Tift County arrests and data from every other county. Mail requests to CCH/Identification Services, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. It takes 5 to 10 business days. The GBI FAQ walks through the full process including what documents to include.

Note: Walk-in appointments at the GBI office in Decatur require scheduling in advance.

Georgia Criminal History for Tift County

The GCIC database holds arrest records from across the state. Tift County arrests flow into this system alongside records from over 600 agencies. The Criminal Justice Information System connects sheriff offices, courts, and correctional facilities throughout Georgia. If someone gets arrested in Tift County, their data goes into the statewide system automatically.

The GBI website connects to criminal history tools, the sex offender registry, and crime statistics. The Rapid ID fingerprint system lets officers in Tift County check fingerprints on the spot using handheld devices. This links to both Georgia's database and the FBI's national system.

For people who ended up in state prison after a Tift County arrest, the GDC offender search covers state facilities. It does not include people held at the Tift County jail.

Tift County Arrest Record Access Laws

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 guarantees public access to arrest reports. Initial arrest reports from the Tift County Sheriff's Office must be shared when requested. Active investigation files may be held back, but the basic arrest data is public.

O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38 covers misuse of criminal records. Getting records under false pretenses can mean a fine up to $5,000 and up to two years behind bars. Even careless disclosure brings a $100 fine and up to 10 days in jail. Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets certain arrest charges be sealed if the case ended with a dismissal or no grand jury action. Guilty findings are never eligible for this.

More Tift County Record Resources

The Georgia Felon Search is a $15 tool for felony conviction checks. Another $15 reveals full details. It only covers felonies, not misdemeanors or sealed records. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex to run it.

Use the Georgia Sheriffs' Association to look up Tift County contacts. The GBI Payment Portal handles fees for state-level searches.

Nearby Counties

Tift County borders these counties. Check where the arrest happened to contact the right office.