Morgan County Arrest Records

In Morgan County, arrest records are generated after an individual is taken into custody. This data typically includes the initial reason for the arrest, the time and place of arrest, the arrestee's personal information, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Generally, officers from the Sheriff's Office are required to make an arrest when they notice an active arrest warrant or have probable cause to believe that a person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offense.

If the arresting agency has enough evidence to support prosecution, the arrestee is typically arraigned in court for trial. This allows the court to determine the defendant's guilt or innocence. If the court finds the defendant guilty, they are sentenced to serve time in the Morgan County Jail or the Georgia Department of Corrections' state prison for longer sentence terms.

Note: Court findings are not included in the arrest record. Instead, they are part of the Morgan County Court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Morgan County?

In Morgan County, Georgia, arrest records are public documents. This means they're generally accessible to almost anyone who wishes to inspect or copy them, as provided by the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.).

However, the Sheriff's Office (or the relevant law enforcement agency) may lawfully restrict access to the following information:

• Booking photographs
• Audio recordings of a 9-1-1 telephone caller who was in distress at the time of the call
• Expunged or sealed records
• Other records considered confidential by some other statute or regulation

The Sheriff's Office
1380 Monticello Road
Madison, GA 30650
Phone: (706) 342-1507
Fax: (706) 342-4561
Jail: (706) 342-2164

Morgan County Arrest Statistics

According to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) summary released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, in 2023 Morgan County, Georgia, reported no murders, rapes, or robberies. However, authorities recorded three cases of aggravated assault. Property crimes included two burglaries, 21 larceny-thefts, and two motor vehicle thefts. There were no reports of arson or human trafficking.

Find Morgan County Arrest Records

As the chief law enforcement body in the County, the Sheriff's Office offers in-office access to members of the public seeking to review or copy specific Morgan County arrest records. The office is located at:

1380 Monticello Road
Madison, GA 30650
Phone: (706) 342-1507
Fax: (706) 342-4561
Jail: (706) 342-2164

While arrest records are generally accessible in-office, online resources may provide accurate and timely information about an offender's status.

The GDC's online search portal provides access to information on inmates currently held in state prisons. Individuals may enter an offender's name, GDC ID, or case number to learn about an incarcerated offender's status. To find an Offender, searchers can visit the portal, select the "Find an Offender" option, and enter the offender's name, ID, or case number. The search results will display information about the inmate.

Requests for arrest records may also be made as an Open Records Request under Georgia's Open Records Act. Forms are available on the county's official website and in the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.

Morgan County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record is a law enforcement record. It documents that an individual was once apprehended and taken into custody. The apprehension is often based on the suspicion that the individual is guilty of some offense.

Morgan County arrest records typically include the arrestee's personal identifying information, the date, place, and time of arrest, the reason for arrest, the arrested individual's photograph, fingerprint, and DNA samples, and the arresting officer's information.

Criminal records provide a comprehensive overview of an individual's interaction with the justice system from encounter to release. This includes their arrest, arraignment, court trial outcome, incarceration, and sentencing information if they were convicted.

It reflects the collective activities of the various institutions constituting the justice system, including the arresting agency, the courts, and the jail. In contrast, an arrest record is limited to the role played by law enforcement during apprehension, and does not reflect the role played by other agencies in the justice administration.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unlike other jurisdictions, arrest records in Georgia do not expire or become automatically expunged after a period. As such, data about an individual's arrest may remain on file forever unless the arrestee formally applies to have it removed.

Georgia law allows for sealing certain arrest records under Georgia Code O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. However, the individual must meet specific criteria to be eligible.

The stipulated eligibility requirements include:

• Being acquitted of the charges
• If the charge was dismissed
• The prosecution did not pursue the case, or a nolle prosequi was entered
• wrongful arrest

However, certain serious offenses, including felonies and gross misdemeanors, may not be eligible for record restriction under the Georgia Code.

Morgan County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to arrest a suspect. In Morgan County, warrants are often issued upon the application of law enforcement and the presentation of evidence disclosing probable cause that an individual has committed a crime.

According to the Georgia Code (§ 17-4-41), an arrest warrant typically contains the following details:

• The suspect's name
• The alleged offense
• The date of issuance, and
• Instructions for law enforcement.

Failure to appear in court, violation of probation, or being the subject of a criminal investigation are additional reasons that may prompt the issuance of an arrest warrant in Morgan County.

Once issued, the warrant allows law enforcement to detain the individual at any time and place. Depending on the scope of the offense, local deputies or state law enforcement agencies may serve active warrants in Morgan County.

Do Morgan County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Georgia, including Morgan County, arrest warrants do not carry an expiration date when issued. As a result, they typically remain active indefinitely until served or recalled by the issuing court.

Expunge Morgan County Arrest Records

In Morgan County, pursuant to the Georgia Code, arrest records can be expunged if the charges were dismissed, not prosecuted, or if the person was found not guilty at trial. To begin the expungement (record restriction) process:

1. Ensure the arrest meets the criteria under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Cases that ended without conviction or involve specific juvenile or first-time offender outcomes may qualify.
2. Eligible individuals must file a request with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. This includes providing documentation such as the arrest report and court disposition.
3. The request is forwarded to the prosecuting attorney for approval. If approved, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) will update the record to reflect its restricted status if approved.

Successful expungement means that the arrest record will be restricted from public view, although it may still be accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies.