Columbus Arrest Records

In the City of Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, arrest records refer to archives of files and documents that provide information about a person or group of people's alleged crimes and detention by law enforcement agents. Arrests are executed when an individual has enough evidence proving guilt for a crime or was caught at the crime scene.

Arrest warrants may be for arrest before arraignment or a bench warrant for arrest after arraignment. Arrest records are public records maintained by the courts and the Muscogee County sheriff's office. These records may also be obtained through Muscogee County Arrest Records, which offers criminal records and active bench warrants. At the same time, the sheriff's office handles the county's arrests and jail and the corresponding records. Following an arrest in Columbus City, suspects are detained at the Muscogee County Jail while they wait to be bailed or charged in court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Columbus?

Columbus arrest records are public records according to the Georgia Open Records Act. This law allows the public access to records and public documents in the custody of public agencies. It also provides for limitations to public records access in instances where sensitive, private, or restricted records are involved. These records are restricted to ensure individual privacy, and public order is maintained. Some of these limitations include:

• Records compiled from pending investigations
• Records disclosing confidential sources
• Juvenile criminal records
• Confidential information such as medical records and Social Security Numbers

The public may access the Columbus Police Department for more information at:

Columbus Police Department
510 10th Street
Columbus, Georgia 31901
(706) 225-3205 - Phone
(706) 225-3100 - Chief of Police
(706) 225-3105 - Office of Professional Standards
(706) 225-3400 - Bureau of Investigative Services
(706) 225-3300 - Bureau of Patrol Services
(706) 225-3200 - Bureau of Support Services

Columbus Arrest Statistics

Columbus arrest statistics are publicly available at the city police department records office or through the FBI UCR website. This website provides that within the past two years, there were 2,317 arrests for all other offenses, 1,728 arrests for simple assaults, 441 arrests for aggravated assaults, and 184 for burglary. The department recorded 117 arrests for motor vehicle theft, 76 arrests for robbery, 27 arrests for murder, 15 arrests for rape, three arrests for manslaughter, and nine arrests for arson.

These individuals are generally detained at:

Muscogee County Prison
7175 Sacerdote Lane, P.O. Box 84041
Columbus, Georgia 31902-1340
(706) 641-5800 - Phone
(706) 641-5840 - Fax

Muscogee County Jail
700 10th Street
Columbus, Georgia 31901
(404) 656-4661 - Phone

Find Columbus Arrest Records

Columbus arrest records are publicly available through the City Police Department's office, the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, and the courts. The public may obtain these records by submitting in-person or mail-in requests to custodial agencies. These requests must describe the arrest or the detainee for an adequate records search. The city police department maintains an Open Records website, which provides access to contact information and an online form for accessing records.

In addition, the state maintains a Find an Offender website, which provides access to the state jail inmate rosters. Requesters may also access criminal court records through the Muscogee County Superior & State Court Portal, which has a Smart Search link for case documents.

Columbus Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Columbus arrest records are a part of criminal records, which provide information about lawful detention. Law enforcement officers may arrest and detain individuals suspected of committing a crime. Such arrests begin the individual's criminal records profile. Criminal records are archives of documents and files showing details of an individual's offenses and convictions.

Arrest records refer to documents detailing an accused's alleged offense and how they were arrested. Criminal records feature different types of records, including court, inmate, and law enforcement. Unlike arrest records, which are limited to detention details, criminal records cover an individual's arrest, court trial, and incarceration. Unlike criminal records, arrest records also do not prove guilt or conviction.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Columbus?

Generally, Columbus arrests will stay on your public profile until legal steps are taken to expunge them. Expungement is the legal process of removing an arrest from an individual's public records. This process is only available to individuals who meet the qualifying requirements. These requirements include:

• No pending charges at the time of filing the petition.
• There must be no conviction or an acquittal of all charges.
• The arrest must involve a minor felony or non-violent misdemeanor.
• The offense was committed by a juvenile
• The waiting period must have been fulfilled.

Columbus Arrest Warrants

Columbus arrest warrants refer to documents that are issued to law enforcement agencies to take an individual into custody and bring them to court to answer for a crime. An arrest warrant is issued and signed by a judge to a law enforcement agency. These documents are valid when they are signed and will remain active till the judge withdraws them or they are executed. Arrest warrants are generally for arrests or bench warrants, which are issued to detain persons who abscond from trial.

These warrants are public records maintained by the sheriff's office and the county courts. The sheriff's office handles records of arrests and county jail inmates, while the courts handle bench warrants and criminal case records. Arrest warrants are typically issued when an individual has been caught in the act of the crime, or there is enough evidence of the accused's guilt. Columbus arrest warrants will contain the following details:

• The accused's name and physical details
• The alleged charges and corresponding laws
• The date, time, and place of the arrest
• The arresting officer's and the agency's details

Do Columbus Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Columbus arrest warrants do not expire until the court or judge recalls them or the named suspect in the warrant has been arrested. These warrants remain active till the date they are executed, and the named individual in the warrant has been taken into law enforcement custody. This rule covers all types of arrest warrants.

Expunge Columbus Arrest Records

In Columbus City, expungement is the legal process of removing certain parts of your records. This process is called Records Restriction because it does not delete the records but makes them inaccessible through any public records access platforms. Muscogee County laws allow individuals to remove arrests from their public records if they are eligible. The conditions to be eligible for expungement in Columbus include:

• An acquittal of all charges or no conviction
• It was a juvenile offender
• It must be a non-violent misdemeanor or a minor felony
• The waiting period must have been completed.
• There must be no pending charges at the time of filing the partition.

After determining your eligibility, gather the relevant court documents required for the petition, such as your arrest and criminal records. Obtain the petition form from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website and complete it with details of the incident and reasons for applying for expungement. File the petition with the other documents. Submission of the petition depends on the arrest date.

If the arrest occured before July 1, 2013, the petition will be submitted to the arresting agency that executed the arrest. Petitions for arrests after July 1, 2013, will be submitted to the prosecuting attorney's office, the District Attorney's Office for cases involving felony, or the Solicitor-General's Office for misdemeanor cases. Attend the court hearings till an order is given. If it is an order granting the expungement, obtain the order and serve it on the relevant governmental agencies. Proceed to request your record to confirm that the expungement has been done.