Dodge County Arrest Records

An arrest is a necessary measure typically taken by law enforcement to prevent and deter criminal activities. In Dodge County, Georgia, law enforcement officers are often inclined to make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe that a person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime. The Dodge County Sheriff and other municipal law enforcement agencies are statutorily authorized to keep a record of each arrest they make.

The Sheriff’s Office operates a pre-trial detention facility known as Dodge County Jail. The facility houses individuals awaiting trial or bond hearings, as well as those serving short-term sentences. Detainees who are convicted and sentenced to longer terms may be transferred to a state prison, such as the Dodge state prison.

The arrest records maintained by law enforcement reflect initial arrests, detentions, and charges. But they do not reflect prison information, which is documented by the Dodge County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dodge County?

Dodge County operates an open records policy. The Dodge County Sheriff and other law enforcement agencies provide arrest records to the public as a service. Requests can be made and copies obtained. The public's right of access is subject to certain statutory limitations.

Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), an arrest record cannot be accessed under the following conditions:

• If access will reveal the identity of a confidential source (an informant);
• If the record contains details of a confidential investigation or prosecution material, which, if revealed, may endanger the life or physical safety of any person or persons;
• If access reveals the existence of a confidential surveillance
• Booking photographs are generally not accessible—GA Code § 35-1-19 (2024)

Accessing restricted records typically requires filing a motion in court to obtain access. The applicant will need to establish to the court that granting access is more likely to benefit the public than cause harm. To obtain a copy of an arrest report, record seekers must visit the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. The Office building is situated at:

Dodge County Sheriff's Office
85 Industrial Blvd
Eastman, GA 31021
Phone: (478) 559-1130

Dodge County Arrest Statistics

Arrest records collected and maintained over time often transform into statistical data. Accordingly, the FBI Crime Data Explorer shows that between January 2023 and December 2023, Dodge County Sheriff’s Office arrested 5 individuals for simple assault, 4 for Disorderly Conduct, 4 for Drug offenses, 2 for Vehicle Theft, 2 arrests for Driving Under the influence, 1 for Aggravated Assault, 1 Burglary, 1 for Homicide Offenses, 1 for Larceny, and 3 arrests for other offenses.

Find Dodge County Arrest Records

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Dodge County. The Department is responsible for most of the County's arrests and is charged with maintaining the County jail. To find out who is in jail or to request and obtain copies of an arrest report, individuals must visit the Sheriff's Office. The address is:

Dodge County Sheriff's Office
85 Industrial Blvd
Eastman, GA 31021
Phone: (478) 559-1130

Arrest records are available either by written request or in person. Requests are not honored over the phone or by fax, but it is recommended to call ahead to ensure that the Sheriff has the record.

The Sheriff's Office also offers a quick lookup option for inmates currently held in the Dodge County Jail on its website.
The online search process:

• Visit the website
• Navigate to the Detention Center page.
• The page has a list of inmates in incarceration
• If the researcher does not know the inmate’s name, they can scan the list of names on the inmate roster one by one.
• Those who have a name can filter search results by entering the inmate's first and last name in the search field.
• Click “Search Inmates” below to initiate a query.

The Sheriff's Office also accepts open records requests in compliance with the State's open records policy. To make a request, please fill out the contact form on the Dodge County Sheriff's Office website, providing your name, subject, email address, phone number, and a message detailing your request in the corresponding text boxes. Proceed to click send.

Records that can be accessed through the open records channel include:

• Incident Reports
• Accident Reports
• Case Files
• Arrest/Detention Records

The Sheriff's Office will respond within three business days if the record is a public record.

Dodge County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records document the arrest process, including the arrest incident and subsequent booking. Booking is the formal administrative process that happens after a person is arrested and taken into custody. During this process, law enforcement officially records the arrest and takes the person into custody, either in jail or detention. The information recorded includes the arrestee's personal information, mugshots, fingerprints, charges, and jail number, after which the records are entered into the law enforcement database.

Criminal records are much more far-reaching than arrest records. Their documentation extends beyond the arrest and includes the defendant's trial and the final outcome of the case, typically until the case is resolved. Arrest records form part of a criminal record and sometimes suffice as a comprehensive record where the arrestee was never officially charged with the crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records do not expire and usually stay on file for an indefinite period. Once entered into the database, an arrest record can only be legally removed through a process known as expungement.

According to Georgia Law, expungement in Dodge County is equivalent to sealing. Meaning the record is restricted from public view but not destroyed. Consequently, once an expungement order is granted, the record is removed from the official records kept by the Sheriff's Office, the state's Department of Corrections records, and other relevant agencies where public disclosure is likely if the record is maintained.

Georgia Code O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 stipulates the eligibility criteria for expungement as follows:
An arrest record is eligible for expungement if:

• The applicant has been acquitted of the charge sought to be expunged
• The charge has been dismissed
• The prosecution did not pursue the case
• The arrest was wrongful

Note: not all criminal offenses can be expunged. Some serious misdemeanor and felony offenses, including sexual offenses, are typically excluded from the expungement process.

Dodge County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court order that authorizes law enforcement to detain and bring a suspect to court to answer to a charge. It is usually issued upon a complaint that a crime has been committed, and a specific individual is the prime suspect.

Evidence is typically presented to the presiding judge linking the suspect to the crime. A valid arrest warrant often contains the following information:

• The law enforcement officer(s) to whom it is addressed;
• A directive commanding the law enforcement officer to arrest the suspect;
• The suspect's name, and
• The judge's signature.

Other instances that may justify the issuance of an arrest warrant include jumping bail, refusal to obey a summons, and being the subject of a fresh criminal investigation.

Do Dodge County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants are issued without an expiration date, meaning they remain in effect indefinitely. The rationale being that if arrest warrants were issued with an expiration date, criminals may decide to keep a low profile until the due date has passed.
Notwithstanding, the validity of an arrest warrant may be affected under certain circumstances, including:

• If the arrest warrant has already been served
• If the prosecution has withdrawn the charge
• Some minor offenses have a statute of limitations for prosecution. Where the due date has passed.

Note, however, that arrest warrants are usually sought for felony offenses, as opposed to misdemeanors.

Expunge Dodge County Arrest Records

There are laid down steps to follow to have an arrest record expunged in Dodge County.
For arrests that occurred prior to July 1st, 2013, apply for expungement at the arresting agency. Applicants will need to submit a completed Request to Restrict Arrest Record Instructions and Request Form.

For arrests that occurred prior:

• Confirm that the arrest has fulfilled the conditions under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. It is easier to expunge juvenile and first-time offender offenses.
• File the record restriction request with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. Support the application with a certified copy of the arrest report and the court disposition (if applicable);
• The application will be forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney. If approved, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) updates the record to reflect its restricted status.
• Expunged records instantly become inaccessible to the public, although they remain accessible to the court and authorized law enforcement.