Lamar County Arrest Records

Lamar County arrest records refer to formal documentation from law enforcement agencies that provide details of detentions and detainees. These records are created when peace officers execute arrest warrants. Arrest warrants are documents issued to law enforcement officers by a judge or magistrate naming an individual for detention. An arrest can also be executed without this document where the offender is reasonably believed to be guilty of a violent felony, or the peace officer witnessed the commission of the crime. When arrests are executed, the detainees are booked and held at the Lamar County Detention Center. This is where arrest details like the mugshot, fingerprints, age, occupation, and other booking details are collected.

Arrest records are maintained by the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, which is primarily in charge of executing arrests in the county. The public can access arrest details like the detainee’s full name, gender, alleged offenses, investigating agency, and arresting officer through the sheriff’s office. The courts also provide access to Lamar County court records from the arraignment, which contain some arrest details. Arrest records in Lamar County do not contain any details that determine or confirm the guilt of the detainee. They are limited to allegations and cannot be used as a complete criminal record.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lamar County?

Yes, Lamar County arrest records are public documents as described in the Georgia Open Records Act (Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 50-18-70 et seq.). There are arrest details that can be accessed by the general public. They include the alleged offense, the investigating agency, the detainee’s name, age, gender, arrest date, time, and location. There are also restricted or sealed arrest details due to privacy concerns. These are records from sensitive cases or details containing personally identifiable information such as social security numbers or house addresses. Other restricted details include pending investigations information, confidential sources, juvenile records, personal identifiers, and victim information. Accessing these records will require the requester’s valid ID and a court order or other proof of authorized access. The sheriff’s office is open for requests at:

Lamar County Sheriff’s Office
121 Roberta Drive
Barnesville, Georgia 30204
(770) 358-5129 - General/Non-emergency
(770) 358-5377 - Alternative/Records
(770) 358-5151 - Jail Operations
(770) 358-5195 - Fax

Lamar County Arrest Statistics

Lamar County arrest statistics can be accessed through law enforcement agencies like the state police or the sheriff’s office. The public can also view and download them from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website, which contains a nationwide arrest database. In 2024, there were 13 arrests recorded by the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, of which there were eight arrests for all other offenses and one arrest for aggravated assault. There were no arrests for arson, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, homicide offenses, robbery, or sex offenses.

Find Lamar County Arrest Records

Lamar County arrest records are publicly accessible through the relevant government agencies. The public can access and obtain copies of these records by physically submitting requests at the agency’s location or by mailing requests to the agency. Using in-person requests will provide faster access to arrest records as it has a same-day processing time. The public can also access Lamar County arrest records online through the state Department of Corrections’ Find an Offender website. This website provides access to an online database of statewide offenders. The sheriff’s office also maintains a Jail Inmate website, which contains an up-to-date list of county inmates. Court records containing arrest information can be accessed through the courts or online through the state’s E-Access to Court Records website.

Lamar County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Lamar County arrest records and criminal records are documents that contain details of legal infractions, but they serve different purposes. Arrest records focus on the details of the person in detention, the alleged offense, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest, while criminal records provide a comprehensive history of a person’s crimes and convictions. Criminal records contain data from arrest records, court trial documents, and jail or prison records. The primary difference between arrest and criminal records is the finality of the details they contain. Arrest records remain speculative as they contain allegations and no confirmation, unlike criminal records, which provide details of convictions and how the conviction was obtained.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests will remain on your records permanently in Lamar County until legal steps are taken to seal or remove them. Arrest records are public information, and there are no automatic removal regulations. They will remain on your public profile and in background checks indefinitely until they are restricted. This applies to cases where there were convictions and cases without convictions. Individuals who were not convicted or were dismissed can have their arrests restricted automatically if the prosecutor enters the dismissal correctly. For convictions, there is a 4-year waiting period for misdemeanors and 5 years for felonies. Individuals who were convicted of a felony must have received a Pardon from the state to be eligible.

Lamar County Arrest Warrants

Lamar County arrest warrants are documents used to facilitate and execute arrests within the county. Arrest warrants are issued and signed by a judge or magistrate to peace officers based on the offense or the jurisdiction involved. They are signed to make them active indefinitely, until the suspect is deceased, arrested, or the warrant is recalled and cancelled by a judge. Arrest warrants may also become inactive if the criminal charge becomes statute-barred. The most common form of arrest warrant is one issued for the arrest of an individual to be arraigned. An arrest warrant in the form of a bench warrant may also be issued for individuals who have been released on bail but do not show up for trial. This document is required for making lawful arrests and is to be presented to the suspect at the point of arrest or as soon as possible. Arrest warrants are public and contain details like the judge’s signature, the issuing jurisdiction, the investigating agency, the suspect’s physical description and name, as well as the alleged offense or violated statutes.

Do Lamar County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Lamar County. Arrest warrants do not become inactive or expire after a certain period. They will remain active from the moment they are signed until the arrest is executed, the warrant is recalled and cancelled, or the named suspect is deceased. If the statute of limitations applies, the warrant may also be inactive because an arrest cannot be executed for an offense that cannot be charged.

Expunge Lamar County Arrest Records

Lamar County arrest records are publicly accessible but can be sealed according to Georgia laws. The process of sealing records in Lamar County involves removing the arrest records from public archives and conducting background checks. This also includes removing court files that contain arrest details from public view. This process is available to individuals who meet the eligibility requirements, which are determined by the outcome of the arrest. According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 35-3-37, there must have been no conviction from the arrest. This means the charges were not filed or were dismissed, dropped by the prosecutor, or there was an acquittal. In cases where the arrest led to a conviction, there is a 4-year waiting period for misdemeanors after completing the sentence before the offender can apply to seal the records. Felonies can be eligible for sealing in cases where the offender received a Pardon from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. There must be no new arrests or convictions, or pending cases against the offender, within the waiting period and at the time of filing the petition. There are serious offenses, such as sexual offenses, driving under the influence, and family violence cases, which are not eligible for sealing. Individuals who qualify can begin by:

• Obtain your Criminal History Report from the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office for $20
• Obtain certified dispositions for each charge you wish to seal
• Fill out the application in the required format and submit the request for restriction. Fr old arrests before 2013, submit a Request to Restrict Arrest Record or Petition for Record Restriction and Sealing for newer cases or convictions
• The District Attorney will review the request, and the judge will weigh the offender’s rehabilitation against the public’s right to know.
• If approved, the judge will sign the order, and the Clerk will seal the court records while law enforcement agencies update your background check.