Lee County Arrest Records

A Lee County arrest record is a documented report of a person's arrest. It is generated following a person's arrest for criminal offenses and includes data about the arrested person, such as their name, date of birth, the time and circumstances of the arrest, the alleged offense, charges, arrest date, arresting agency, and booking information.

Arrests in Lee County occur when individuals are caught committing crimes, suspected of criminal activity, or when law enforcement has probable cause to believe they were involved in a crime. Following an arrest, the arrestee undergoes booking, during which the arresting agency records the individual's personal information, fingerprints, photographs, a detailed account of the arrest, witness statements, and any collected evidence. Arrest records are created as part of the booking process, and they play a vital role within the criminal justice system, along with others such as Lee County Court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lee County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Lee County under the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA). To this effect, individuals can submit requests to law enforcement agencies in Lee County to access, inspect, or copy records of arrests made within any jurisdiction in the county.

However, under § 50-18-72 of GORA, certain arrest records are restricted, exempt, or sequestered from public disclosure. These include juvenile arrest records, sealed or expunged arrest records, and mugshots (per O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19). Furthermore, this restriction applies to arrest records related to ongoing law enforcement investigations whose disclosure will disrupt or affect police activity and sensitive personal information whose disclosure will constitute an invasion of privacy or violate privacy laws.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public Lee County arrest record contains the following information:

• The arrestee's personal information (i.e., name, gender, date of birth)
• The arrestee's physical data (i.e., skin color, height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.)
• The date, time, and location of the arrest
• The arresting agency and/or officer
• Booking information, including date and time
• The charges filed following the arrest
• The alleged offense
• Bond information (if applicable)
• Release information (if and when released from custody).

Lee County Arrest Statistics

Public arrest statistics for Lee County are unavailable. However, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides statewide yearly arrest data in its annual Crime Statistics reports. For instance, in the 2023 report, there were 30,904 arrests statewide, including 9,688 for violent crimes and 21,216 for property crimes. Specific offenses included murder (407 arrests), rape (436 arrests), robbery (928 arrests), aggravated assault (7,917 arrests), burglary (2,177 arrests), larceny-theft (17,608 arrests), motor vehicle theft (1,262 arrests), and arson (136 arrests).

Find Lee County Arrest Records

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for Lee County arrest records. This office processes requests for these records under the Georgia Open Records Act, which grants individuals the right to access and obtain copies of such records. To request arrest records, individuals can submit an Open Records Request to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), by mail, or by fax. The Sheriff's Office may charge fees for searching, retrieving, copying, and supervising the inspection of these records.

Lee County Sheriff's Office
119 Pinewood Road
P.O. Box 610
Leesburg, Georgia 31763
Phone: (229) 759-3334
Fax: (229) 759-3331

Additionally, individuals can use the inmate search to find information on arrestees in the Lee County jail and the Sex Offender Registry Search for arrested sex offenders in Lee County. Interested persons may also contact a local police department in the county, such as the Leesburg Police Department, to request records of arrests made by the local PD. Interested persons may use the Georgia Department of Corrections “find an offender” tool to find statewide arrestee information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lee County

Interested persons can conduct free searches of Lee County arrestee information through the county inmate search service and Sex Offender Registry Search. They can also contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office or a local police station to search these records. However, searching, inspecting, and copying fees may apply.

Alternatively, interested parties can search for Lee County arrest records through third-party online resources. Third-party public records sites aggregate public records, including arrest records, from different agencies and offer them to the public through user-friendly, searchable databases. However, free access on these sites may be limited to basic arrest records; detailed and comprehensive records may attract a one-time or ongoing subscription fee.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Georgia law does not authorize the automatic deletion or erasure of arrests from a person's record with time. However, under O.C.G.A. §35-3-37, arrest records can be restricted or sealed from public disclosure. Individuals who qualify may submit requests to restrict or seal their arrest records. If they meet all the criteria outlined in the law, their arrest records can be removed from public access (though not deleted or erased from official records).

Expunge Lee County Arrest Records

Expungement is formally called "record restriction” in Georgia. Record restriction removes arrests from public access but does not delete or destroy them. Individuals in Lee County who qualify can have their arrest records restricted under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §35-3-37). Under the law, individuals who can have their arrest records restricted are those whose charges were dropped, dismissed, or resulted in acquittal.

The process to apply for arrest record restriction in Georgia depends on the arrest date (i.e., before July 1, 2013, or on or after July 1, 2013).

Before July 1, 2013:

• Requests must be submitted to the arresting agency (e.g., Lee County Sheriff’s Office).
• Complete Section 1 of the "Request to Restrict Arrest Record" form and submit it to the arresting agency. Pay the applicable processing fee.
• The arresting agency fills out Section 2 and forwards the form to the district attorney’s (prosecuting attorney) office.
• The district attorney or prosecuting attorney completes Section 3 and decides within 90 days to approve or deny the request.
• The district attorney’s office communicates its decision to the petitioner and the arresting agency.

On or after July 1, 2013:

• No application is required through law enforcement. Eligible individuals should submit their request to restrict arrest records directly to the district attorney’s office.
• The district attorney reviews the request and decides to reject or approve the request within 90 days.

Approved requests are sent to the GBI’s Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) database. In case the district attorney does not have access to the GCIC database, applicants must send the approved record restriction form and a $25 processing fee (money order or certified check) to:

Georgia Crime Information Center Record Restrictions
P.O. Box 370808
Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808.

Note: If a district attorney denies a person’s request to restrict records, they can file an appeal in the Lee County Superior Court within 30 days.

Lee County Arrest Warrants

A Lee County arrest warrant is a judicial order authorizing law enforcement to arrest and detain an individual. Arrest warrants in Lee County are issued based on probable cause, and they can be issued by judges, magistrates, or any municipal officer with the power of a magistrate (GA Code § 17-4-40).

A Lee County arrest warrant is issued in cases where law enforcement cannot arrest an offender or suspect without judicial approval. However, officers can arrest without a warrant if the crime is committed in their presence or there is evidence that a criminal offense is being committed or has just been committed.

To secure an arrest warrant against a person in Lee County, law enforcement must complete and submit a warrant application/affidavit to a judge or magistrate, establishing probable cause. A probable cause exists when evidence or the affidavit reasonably indicates that a crime has been or is about to be committed. A judicial officer reviews the affidavit and, if satisfied, issues the warrant on behalf of the state.

Per GA Code § 17-4-41, a Lee County arrest warrant must include:

• Details of the alleged offense
• Name and/or description of the accused
• In theft cases, a description and value of the stolen property, the owner's name, and the individual from whom it was stolen.
• Date of issuance
• Name of the judicial officer authorizing the warrant
• Conditions of bail or bond, if applicable.

Do Lee County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Lee County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active until the individual named on the warrant is arrested, voluntarily surrenders to law enforcement, or dies. However, while issued arrest warrants are valid regardless of the passage of time, they can become invalid and unenforceable if they are recalled or quashed by the court for different reasons, including new evidence exonerating the accused or the prosecutor dropping the charges.