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  1. Athens-Clarke County Court
  2. Athens-Clarke County Arrest Records

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Arrest Records

Athens-Clarke County arrest records are data collected by criminal justice agencies on individuals who were arrested and detained in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. Common examples of these data include identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, accusations, and any dispositions or sentences arising from them.

The primary law enforcement agency for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, is the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. The department handles daily patrol, emergency response, crime investigations, and maintains records of arrests effected by its officers within its jurisdiction. Some local and state agencies may also have concurrent or specialized jurisdiction. Common examples include the Sheriff's Office, ACCPD, UGA Police, Winterville Police, Georgia State Patrol, or another agency with applicable jurisdiction.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Athens-Clarke, Georgia?

Although certain sensitive records are exempt by law, Athens-Clarke County arrest records are generally considered to be public records under Georgia Law. According to the Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), the public has the right to inspect and copy state and local government records, which by the definition of the Act includes arrest records maintained by local and state law enforcement.

Under the Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 et. seq., custodians are required to respond to an open request within 3 days of the request submission. If an exemption applies, state law requires the custodian to cite the exemption by the exact code, section, and subsection where applicable.

What Do Public Athens-Clarke County Arrest Records Contain?

An Athens-Clarke County arrest record search typically reflects the following details:

  • The name of the arrested person
  • Personal identifiers
  • The date, time, and place of arrest
  • The photograph of the arrestee of available
  • The charge
  • The arresting agency
  • Dispositions or sentences arising from the charge

Access to Athens-Clarke County arrest records is not absolute. Some records may be sealed or exempt from disclosure by the order of a court. These records are typically constituted by the following details:

  • The identity of an informant;
  • Misdemeanors;
  • Confidential investigation or prosecution materials likely to endanger the life or physical safety of any person or persons; or
  • The existence of a confidential surveillance or investigation.
  • Sealed or expunged record

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Arrest Search

Individuals can find records of offenders currently serving in Georgia Department of Corrections facilities across the state through the Georgia.gov online database. The online database allows the public to search for offenders by name, ID or case number, and other identifying information. Search results for Athens-County Offenders will typically display information depicting the offender's arrest, the charge, and the disposition arising therefrom.

If the arrest resulted in criminal charges, searchers can check with the Athens-Clarke County Court. The Clerk of the Magistrate Court allows individuals seeking arrest information to conduct searches and obtain copies of records during normal business hours at their office location. If the searcher is unable to visit the court, they can forward a written request via mail to the Clerk of Magistrate Court with a money order or check for the appropriate fee attached. Filling out the form requires providing comprehensive details such as the arrest or filing date, the case number, the arrestee's name, charges, and other relevant information. Requesters can also indicate on the form whether they prefer a certified copy.

Requests should be mailed to:

Clerk of the Magistrate Court

P.O. Box 1868

Athens, GA 30603

Note that the Magistrate Court only provides dockets for files dated 1992 or older.

Some arrest operations in Blair County may be carried out by federal law enforcement agencies such as the (Federal Bureau of Investigation). These may be done alone or alongside state or local law enforcement. Arrests executed pursuant to federal law are usually found on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) System. This online search tool allows individuals to view criminal case files, including arrests and final dispositions of federal detainees. Registered users may utilize this online resource to search for criminal case files tied to an arrest by name or case number for a fee.

If the arrestee has been tried and convicted, searchers may resort to the Bureau of Prison BOP Inmate Locator Tool. Individuals can use this tool to conduct online searches for incarcerated individuals by name or the case file number.

Athens-Clarke County Inmate Locator

At the county level, there are several ways to find Athens-Clarke County arrest records, and the most appropriate option depends on the level of information that the searcher seeks.

For recent arrests occurring within the period of one week, searchers can visit the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office website to review the booking report of involved suspects. The Sheriff's Office online arrest list publishes unofficial booking information of Athens-Clarke County arrestees who were detained within the last 7 days. The booking information is not published until approximately 24 hours after the booking occurs and the records are updated every 15 minutes. Individuals seeking official records can contact the Sheriff's Office at:

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

P.O. Box 1868

Athens, Georgia 30603

If the person was not booked in the Clarke County Jail, individuals can approach the arresting agency directly. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) serves as the primary law enforcement agency in Athens-Clarke County. This means a good deal of the county's arrests are handled and processed by the department before suspects are booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail. To obtain arrest records made by the department, individuals can submit an open-records request to the Police/Corrections record office through the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Open Records Center portal. The online portal allows residents to submit requests and receive feedback on the status of their requests. Records may also be accessed in person at the Police/Corrections records office is located at:

3035 Lexington Road,

Athens, GA 30605

Phone: 762-400-7000

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Athens-Clarke County

Most record custodians require requests for arrest records to be submitted along with a check or money order for the appropriate fee. While this is typically the norm, some resources allow individuals to access these records free of charge. Common examples include the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office website, which allows the public to look up the booking report of individuals who were arrested and detained in the county jail. Searchers will typically need to provide comprehensive details pertaining to the individual's arrest, including the arrest or filing date, the case number, the arrestee's name, charges, and other relevant details. Records are confined to the details of persons arrested within the last 7days.

At the state level, Georgia.gov online database allows the public to search for offenders by name, ID or case number, and other identifying information.

Accessible records may not include records exempt by law or authorized to be sealed by the order of a court.

Athens-Clarke County Arrest Report

Although often used interchangeably, an arrest report and an arrest record are distinct types of records. Arrest reports are documents created by law enforcement in the aftermath of an arrest to depict the operating circumstances at the time of an arrest, including the reason for probable cause, the time and place, location, alleged offense, arresting agency, and other relevant detail. They form the personal files of law enforcement and are often used by law enforcement to determine whether to investigate a case further, release the suspect entirely or on bail, or file criminal charges against them in court. The comprehensive records are often not public, but individuals may be allowed to see certain details enough to inform the public about the arrest.

By contrast, arrest records are summary entries in judicial or custodial databases that depict the fact that a person was arrested, their fingerprint, booking photos, detention, and in . Unlike an arrest report, arrest records are concise and typically do not provide a context to the arrest, except that the individual was arrested and detained in custody. While it logs the initial arrest, a complete criminal history may later update to show the final court disposition (such as dismissal, acquittal, or conviction).

Arrest reports and arrest records typically do not show a final court result if the state dropped the case or the defendant was found not guilty. Therefore, they should not be taken as evidence of the individual's guilt. True proof of conviction may be found in separate court dispositions, not in police arrest files.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Athens-Clarke County

Individuals with an arrest or conviction record may sometimes wish to turn a new leaf, which could be affected by their prior criminal history. While prior conviction or arrest may present a problem in many jurisdictions, Georgia law allows individuals to remove these records from their criminal background history through a process known as "Sealing". While expungement refers to a process that allows arrest or conviction to be erased from a person's criminal background so that it is as if the offense never occurred, sealing restricts the record from public disclosure and allows only specified entities, such the person on record, authorized law enforcement, and the court to access it.

To get a record sealed under Georgia law, individuals must first confirm that their arrest or conviction possesses the eligible criteria for sealing under Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37).

To expunge records of arrest occurring before July 1st 2013, individuals must:

  • Complete a three-section page form called the Request to Restrict Arrest Record Form
  • The completed form should be forwarded to the prosecuting attorney. If approved, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) will update the record to reflect its restricted status, and notify the applicant.
  • If the prosecuting attorney cannot update the record electronically, the applicant may have to complete the process manually. They would have to take the completed application to the arresting agency.
  • Applicants may be advised to send the approved Request to Restrict Arrest Record form and $25.00 fee (money order or certified check payable to "Georgia Bureau of Investigation") to:

Georgia Crime Information Center

Record Restrictions

P.O. Box 370808 Decatur

Georgia 30037-0808

If the arrest occurred prior to July 1st 2013, the arresting agency is solely responsible for processing the expungement request.

How Do You Remove Athens-Clarke County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Once a sealing order is granted, records of arrest published on official government websites and databases will automatically be removed and public access restricted unless a court grants a reopening order or the record features in subsequent deliberations for sentencing of the same person for a criminal offense.

For records published on private websites, a different process applies as these sites are not automatically bound by the expungement or sealing order. Consequently, individuals seeking removal of an arrest record from the internet may need to follow the relevant websites procedure. Most websites have an "opt out option" that the public can use to remove records from the internet.