Dougherty County Arrest Records

Under the Georgia Code § 17-4-60 (2020), arrests may become necessary if there is reasonable suspicion that an offense has been or is being committed. The law allows law enforcement officers and private persons to make arrests on reasonable and probable grounds of suspicion. Once arrested, arrested persons are generally held in the Dougherty County Jail. Their details are then recorded in a document that forms what is known as an arrest record.

Arrest records are official documents that provide detailed information about an individual's arrest history, including information about and physical quantities of the arrestee. The Dougherty County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, which form part of the Dougherty County Court Records system. These records are linked to other public records, providing a comprehensive legal history of individuals within the county.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dougherty County?

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, the public is generally entitled to access and inspect public records, including Dougherty County Arrest Records. However, certain records are exempt from disclosure, such as records that could compromise ongoing investigations.

Some exemptions under the Georgia Open Records Act include:

• Records required by federal statute or regulation to be kept confidential.
• Medical or veterinary records and similar files, where disclosure would invade personal privacy.
• Records compiled for law enforcement or prosecution purposes that could reveal the identity of a confidential source, endanger someone's safety, or disclose a confidential investigation or surveillance.
• Records of law enforcement, prosecution, or regulatory agencies related to pending investigations or prosecutions are exempt from disclosure until the final investigation or trial.
• Individual accident reports are restricted, with access typically limited to those directly involved or having a stated need.
• Records reveal personal information about public employees, such as home addresses, telephone numbers, and social security numbers.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records contain information related to the arrest and the individual involved. Here is a general list of information that may be found in an arrest record:

• Information of the arrestee: Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Physical description, etc.
• Details of the arrest: Date, time, and location.
• Name and department of the arresting officer.
• Location of detention (e.g., Dougherty County Jail).
• List of charges filed against the arrestee.
• Bond Information: If applicable, details regarding bail or bond, including the amount set.
• Mugshot: A photograph of the individual taken at the time of booking.

Dougherty County Crime Rate

Based on the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data for Georgia, Dougherty County has a crime rate of 10.94 per 1,000 persons. According to the report, a total of 926 crimes were committed in the county in 2022. The most prevalent crimes in 2022 were violent and property crimes. Specifically, there were 246 violent crime cases and 680 property crime incidents across the county. Aggravated assault was the most common violent crime, with 213 registered cases.

Additionally, there were 16 and 17 instances of Murder and Rape, respectively. As for property crimes, Theft saw the most cases, with 494 instances. Other property crimes, such as Burglary, were widespread. Other significant crimes included Robbery, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson.

Dougherty County Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, the Dougherty County Police Department made 190 arrests in 2022. Of these 190 arrests, 140 of them were for All Other Offenses. The other 50 arrests were for Simple Assault, DUI, Aggravated Assault, Vandalism, Sex Offenses, Drug Violations, Fraud, Forgery, and Offenses Against the Family and Children. Simple Assault and DUI had the highest number of arrests, 20 and 16, respectively. Additionally, men made up most of the arrests, with the police department arresting 149 men in 2022. Meanwhile, 41 women were arrested at that time. The demographic with the highest arrests were men aged 40-44.

Find Dougherty County Arrest Records

The Dougherty County Sheriff's Office manages and oversees the county jail, maintaining comprehensive records of all inmates. To assist the public in locating individuals held in the county's correctional facilities, the Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search portal. This tool allows users to conduct searches and access information about current detainees by inputting the required details into the search field, such as the inmate's surname, given name, or booking identifier. Additionally, the Dougherty County Jail Roster offers an up-to-date list of all incarcerated individuals within its facility, which is accessible to the public. Interested persons can access the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search tool through this link.

Free Arrest Record Search in Dougherty County

In Dougherty County, different agencies offer county residents fee access to arrest records. For instance, interested persons may use the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office online inmate search portal or the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search tool. Record seekers can also make in-person visits at the Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, requesters can use third-party services. However, these websites are not official government sources anf may not always possess precise or accurate information.

Get Dougherty County Criminal Records

Criminal records detail an individual's criminal history, including arrests, convictions, and incarcerations. Dougherty County criminal records are generally accessible to the public through the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office or the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which offers comprehensive criminal history records. Felony conviction records are publicly accessible without consent, but other criminal history details require signed permission from the individual. These records can be obtained in person from the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, GCIC, or the Georgia Felon Search.

Dougherty County Sheriff's Office
Judicial Building
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
Phone: (229) 431-3259

Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Crime Investigation Center (GCIC)
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
Phone: (404) 244-2600

Dougherty County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records represent different stages of the legal process. Arrest records are created when an individual is apprehended by law enforcement on suspicion of a crime and contain basic information such as the person's name, the date of arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency. These records do not indicate guilt or innocence and are generally available to the public, although some details may be redacted for privacy or to protect ongoing investigations.

In contrast, criminal records are established after a person is convicted in court and include comprehensive details of the arrest, charges, trial (if any), and sentencing. These records are not always accessible to the public and may be sealed or expunged, particularly in juvenile cases. Criminal records can significantly impact an individual's future, particularly in areas such as employment, housing, and professional licensing.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Georgia, arrests typically remain on a person's record indefinitely unless they are deleted or restricted. Expungement or record restriction may be possible if the charges were dismissed or there was no conviction. However, felony convictions and other charges may remain permanently on a person's record. Local law enforcement agencies, including those in Dougherty County, follow these state guidelines when maintaining arrest records.

Expunge Dougherty County Arrest Records

Georgia law only allows for one type of record relief, the Records Restriction Process. According to GA Code § 35-3-37 (2022), restricted records are only accessible to criminal justice agencies. This process does not entirely remove the record but restricts access to it, rendering it inaccessible to third parties such as employers. A person is eligible if:

• The person was released without prosecution.
• The charges against the arrested person are dismissed, and no accusation or indictment is filed.
• The person has not been convicted of the same or a similar offense under state or federal laws in the last five years.
• There are no other criminal charges against the person.

Convictions, however, particularly for serious offenses, are generally not eligible. The process for expungement is as follows:

• Application: No application is needed for arrests after July 1, 2013- the prosecutor may approve the restriction during sentencing. If not, individuals can contact the prosecutor to request it. For arrests before July 1, 2013, individuals must apply by completing a request form, which must be approved by the record holder, arresting agency, and prosecutor.
• Once approved, the prosecutor submits the restriction information into the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) database, and the arresting agency is notified (or the applicant, if the prosecutor cannot submit the restriction).
• The applicant is informed via email.
• A $25 fee is required for processing, payable to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Dougherty County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Dougherty County is a legal order issued by a judge or magistrate that allows law enforcement to detain a person suspected of committing a crime. For a warrant to be issued, probable cause must be established through evidence and an affidavit. The warrant includes the suspect's full name, date of birth, physical description, suspected crime, and the issuing judge's information.

Dougherty County Arrest Warrant Search

The Dougherty County Sheriff's Office maintains a detailed list of all active arrest warrants within the county. Individuals can contact or visit the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office in person to search for an active warrant. Interested persons may also use the available Georgia Warrant Search portal. This online tool provides an up-to-date list of individuals with outstanding warrants in the state.

Dougherty County Sheriff's Office
Judicial Building
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
Phone: (229) 431-3259

Do Dougherty County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Dougherty County, warrants remain valid and do not expire until one of the following occurs:

• The individual named in the warrant is arrested
• The warrant is recalled by the judge or magistrate who issued it
• The charges against the individual are dropped.