Liberty County Arrest Records

Under Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Georgia Code, law enforcement agents are authorized to arrest individuals who have committed or are suspected of a crime. These laws dictate who may make an arrest, when an arrest is necessary, and who may authorize arrests.

After an offender is arrested, they are normally held in the county jail maintained by the Liberty County Sheriff. They will be processed at the jail and then arraigned to stand before a judge. Crimes in Georgia are usually classified as felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. The severity of the case may determine whether the offender is released on bail or kept in jail.

Local law enforcement agencies generate Liberty County arrest records. Obtaining arrest records may be possible from the local sheriff’s office, local police departments, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, or as part of Liberty County Court Records maintained by the local clerk of courts.

Are Arrest Records Public in Liberty County?

Arrest records are public in Liberty County under Georgia’s Open Records Act. This means that unless otherwise stated by law, the general public is guaranteed access to public records held by government agencies.

However, not all records are public. The Open Records Act exempts certain records from public disclosure. Examples of records and information exempted from public access include the following.

• Records that are part of ongoing criminal investigations may be restricted until the investigation is over.
• Juvenile arrest records
• Records that contain certain sensitive security information, the disclosure of which would compromise public safety or endanger lives
• Any personal information that would constitute an invasion of privacy, such as financial information, medical records, and social security numbers
• Records covered by attorney-client privilege

Although these records are restricted from public access, it may be possible to access the record with the restricted parts removed or redacted. Law enforcement and other government agents may still have access to the full record.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, public arrest records will contain details related to the arrest in question, including details of the suspect, the crime, and events around the arrest. While the exact details may have small differences due to different jurisdictions, agencies, and the type of crime, arrest records will usually contain the following information.

• Personal information of the suspect, including their name (aliases included), gender, race, date of birth, physical description(hair and eye color, weight, height, scars, tattoos), and address
• The crime committed, charges filed, statutes/laws violated by the crime, bail/bond information, and arrest warrant information, if available
• Date, time, and location of the arrest. It will also contain the name of the arresting agent and the law enforcement agency they represent
• Booking information, including booking number, date, time, and location. Fingerprints and mugshot photographs may also be part of an arrest record.

Arrest records sometimes contain court case information such as the location, case number, court dates, current disposition, and sentencing details.

Liberty County Arrest Statistics

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office submits yearly arrest statistics to the FBI using the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. According to the statistics submitted in 2020, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office reported 356 arrests. Counted in this total are 125 arrests for drug/narcotic offenses, 50 arrests for driving under the influence, 16 arrests for larceny, 15 arrests for weapon offenses, 14 arrests for disorderly conduct, six arrests for simple assaults, three arrests for fraud, and two arrests each for aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.

Find Liberty County Arrest Records

Liberty County arrest records and inmate information may be obtained from the Liberty County Sheriff or the Liberty County Jail. Record seekers may inquire or direct public record requests to the sheriff’s office at (912) 876-4555 or sheriffopenrecords@libertycountyga.gov.

Information and questions about inmates in the Liberty County Jail may also be obtained by calling the county jail at (912) 876-6411. The sheriff’s office also maintains an online Inmate Roster showing the current jail population.

Inmate information on a state level may be obtained from the Georgia Department of Corrections. Record seekers may use the online Find an Offender search tools to look up and check the status of inmates in jails statewide.

Free Arrest Record Search in Liberty County

Interested parties may obtain a Liberty County arrest or inmate record for free by contacting the sheriff’s office by phone or email at (912) 876-4555 or sheriffopenrecords@libertycountyga.gov.

It should be noted that although viewing records or obtaining information for free may be possible, physical copies will require a copy fee. Online databases such as the Liberty County Jail Inmate Roster and the Georgia Department of Correction Offender Search provide free access to inmate records.

Third-party records websites also provide an option to look up and in some cases download public arrest records for free. Most of these websites have no government ties so search results should be verified with official government sources.

Liberty County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Liberty County arrest and criminal records detail a person’s interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The distinction between these records lies in how in-depth they are and what aspects they cover.

Arrest records only detail a person’s arrests and are usually generated by the arresting agency. They will contain the person’s name and physical description, the crimes they were arrested for, and when/where they were arrested. Arrest records may also include court case information if the person was charged to court after the arrest.

Criminal records, on the other hand, are far more comprehensive and contain everything about a person's criminal history, including arrests. They detail the arrests and court case information up to and including the verdicts. They will also contain sentencing information, jail time served, and supervisory periods such as probation. Criminal records consist of various documents generated by different agencies.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Georgia will permanently remain on an individual’s record unless steps are taken to seal or restrict them. Interested parties may apply to have their record sealed or restricted depending on certain factors. Arrests that were not prosecuted may be automatically restricted after some time. The period will depend on the type and severity of the crime. For example, arrests for misdemeanors, most felonies, and serious violent/sex-related crimes not prosecuted may be sealed in two, four, and seven years, respectively.

Expunge Liberty County Arrest Records

The process for expunging or restricting arrest records in Liberty County may differ from other jurisdictions; hence, it is advised to contact the prosecutor's office and the local arresting agency for up-to-date information about the application process and what documents and fees are required. Arrests that qualify for restriction in Georgia include but are not limited to certain misdemeanor offenses and cases where the offender was found not guilty or the case was dismissed or otherwise closed without a conviction. Some general steps are as follows.

Applicants must gather the appropriate forms and documentation to apply for the restriction. If the arrest was before July 1st, 2013, applicants may fill out the Request to Restrict Arrest Record form and submit it to the arresting agency. If the arrest was after or on July 1st, 2013, use the request form or a form may be provided by the prosecuting attorney’s office. Applicants should also obtain a copy of their criminal history or a certified copy of the final disposition of their court case.

If the arrest occurred before July 1st, 2013, fill out section one of the form and then submit the form to the arresting agency. Ask them to complete section two and submit the form to the prosecuting attorney’s office. The prosecuting attorney’s office will fill out section three of the form.

If the arrest occurred on or after July 1st, 2013, the applicant should fill out and submit the form directly to the prosecutor's office in the county where the arrest occurred. The form does not have to pass through the arresting agency.

The prosecuting attorney’s office will review the application and approve or deny it within ninety(90) days. During the process, the applicant may have to pay the $50 application fee. After making the decision, the prosecutor’s office will notify the applicant and the arresting agency. The applicant should obtain and keep a copy of the completed application for their records.

If the application is approved, the prosecutor’s office will submit the complete application to the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) Database. If the prosecutor’s office cannot access the database, the applicant must send the approved application to the GCIC themselves and pay the GCIC Processing Fees. Payment is acceptable as a money order or certified check payable to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The approved application and the payment should be mailed to:

Georgia Crime Information Center - Record Restrictions

P.O. Box 370808
Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808

The GCIC typically processes record restriction applications within 2 to 3 weeks and will mail the applicant a letter of completion confirming the record has been restricted in the law enforcement database.

Liberty County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judicial official instructing law enforcement to apprehend a person and bring them before a judge. Article 3 of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Procedure covers arrest warrants and how they work in Georgia.

Arrest warrants may be issued by any of the following officials in Georgia.

• Any judge of a superior, city, state, or magistrate court
• Municipal officers clothed with the powers of a magistrate by law
• Any retired judge or judge emeritus of a state court may issue arrest warrants if authorized in writing by an active judge of the state court of the county where the warrants are to be issued

Arrest warrants are issued after an application has been made by a peace officer or law enforcement officer showing probable cause that the subject of the warrant committed a crime. When a warrant application is made by someone other than a law enforcement officer, the judicial officer must conduct a hearing and notify the subject of the warrant. Warrant applications and issuance hearings may also be performed via electronic means such as a video conference.

At the application, the issuing officer/judge will listen to a presentation stating why a warrant is necessary. The person whose arrest is being sought after may also defend themselves and prove that a warrant is unnecessary. If issued, the warrant may be executed in any county in Georgia without being endorsed by any judicial officer from that county.

A typical arrest warrant issued in Georgia will contain the following information.

• The name and reasonable description of the person to be apprehended
• The name of the person who requested the warrant(the affiant)
• The county where it was issued
• The date the warrant was issued
• The crime committed and the statute it violated
• Order of arrest to all law enforcement in the state
• The name and signature of the judicial officer who issued the warrant

Do Liberty County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants issued in Liberty County and the rest of Georgia do not expire. They generally remain active until executed, canceled, or set aside. However, depending on the offense covered in the warrant, there is a statute of limitations on how long these warrants remain active. Warrants for misdemeanors are active for two years, warrants for low-level felony crimes are active for seven years, and warrants for serious felonies are active indefinitely. The warrant may be renewed if the statute of limitations passes without the offender being caught.