Pike County Arrest Records

In Pike County, Georgia, an arrest occurs when law enforcement officers witness a crime or have probable cause to believe an individual committed one. The probable cause is based on concrete evidence beyond suspicion. An arrest is also necessary when a judge issues a warrant for an individual's arrest, or the individual is a danger to the public. Suspects arrested in Pike County are usually booked into the Pike County Jail until they are arraigned before a judge, a bond is posted, they are released on recognizance, or transferred to another facility.

Pike County Arrest records are official records that document arrests made within the County. The Pike County Sheriff's Office or other arresting law enforcement agencies, such as municipal police departments and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), generate arrest records and make them available to the public on request. They are an integral part of Pike County Court Records in the custody of the clerk of courts. They are referenced when the time comes for the hearing, when the arrestee has their day in court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pike County?

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, Pike County arrest records are considered public information except when the law precludes their disclosure. The public is authorized to request such records from their custodians as the act grants them unrestricted access.

However, some records are restricted from public access by law. These include the following:

• Records protected by attorney-client privilege
• Records that could interfere with ongoing criminal investigations
• Records exempted from disclosure by state and federal statutes
• Juvenile arrest records
• Personal records whose disclosure would amount to a breach of privacy

Restricted records may still be accessible if the record seeker obtains authorization, such as a court order. Interested parties may make inquiries about arrest records by reaching out to the County Sheriff's office at:

Pike County Sheriff’s Office
89, Jackson Street,
Zebulon, GA 30295
Phone: (770) 567-8431

Pike County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2024 report from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the arrest rate for Pike County was 702.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Larceny-theft had the highest figure, with an arrest rate of 262.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Disorderly conduct accounted for 104.5 arrests per 100,000, simple assault accounted for 93.9 arrests per 100,000, battery accounted for 75.2 arrests per 100,000, while driving under the influence accounted for 59.3 arrests per 100,000 inhabitants.

Find Pike County Arrest Records

Record seekers may find Pike County arrest records by contacting the Pike County Sheriff's Office. They may visit the Sheriff's Office on Jackson Street in person. They may also call the office at (770) 567-8431 ahead to get information about record availability, the request procedure, and copy fees. Visitors may also look up offenders registered in the county through the offender registry and other lists provided by the sheriff's office.

To get information about inmates held in state-managed facilities, interested parties may search online using the offender search tool provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). Similarly, interested parties may find inmates held in federal prisons through the Inmate Locator provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Pike County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Pike County arrest and criminal records both document an individual’s run-ins with law enforcement. The difference becomes more obvious from the perspective of adjudication or guilt. Arrest records do not indicate whether an individual is guilty. They only provide information about the individual's apprehension by law enforcement on suspicion of a crime. In contrast, criminal records are generated when charges are formally filed. As the case progresses, the criminal record is populated with more details.

The arresting agency generates an arrest record. It typically contains details about the arrest, such as descriptions of the suspect, details of the crime and the statute violated, booking information, details about bond or bail terms, and the arresting agency. Criminal records show the suspect's full criminal history, including all arrests, case numbers, charges filed, motions and rulings, guilty or not guilty outcomes, jail time, and any alternative sentencing measures such as probation or parole.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Pike County remain indefinitely on record until the record holder takes steps to remove them. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-7 gives eligible individuals the privilege of record restriction. This does not destroy the criminal record; rather, it limits who can see it. Once restricted, the record is removed from public view. However, the records remain accessible to law enforcement and the courts.

Pike County Arrest Warrants

Pike County arrest warrants are official documents or court orders commanding law enforcement to take an individual accused of a crime into custody. Before a warrant is issued, a law enforcement officer presents an affidavit to the court that demonstrates evidence of the subject's alleged crime. Private individuals or crime victims may also apply to the court for a warrant.

Upon receiving the complaint, a judge reviews the application and the evidence to determine whether the minimum standard of probable cause has been met, showing that the subject committed the crime. If the judge agrees that there is sufficient probable cause, they proceed to issue the warrant.

Warrants issued in Pike County typically contain the following information:

• The full name and description of the suspect
• The crime committed and the statutes violated
• Evidence and probable cause that led to issuing the warrant
• Time, date, and location where the warrant was issued
• Name and signature of the issuing judge

Do Pike County Arrest Warrants Expire?

An arrest warrant issued in Pike County does not automatically go away with the passage of time. It remains enforceable until the subject gets arrested, surrenders, or the issuing judge recalls the warrant. Moreover, warrant information is entered into a national database; even if the subject evades law enforcement for a while, they will be arrested immediately when stopped at checkpoints.

Expunge Pike County Arrest Records

In Georgia, the legal mechanism by which individuals can have relief from criminal records is known as “record restriction”. Governed by O.C.G.A. § 35-3-7, this process limits public access to certain criminal records. Record restriction does not destroy the offender’s criminal history; instead, it limits who can access it.

Eligibility for record restriction in Pike County depends on the outcome of the case and when the arrest occurred. Some eligibility conditions include:

• The criminal charges against the individual were dropped, nolle prossed, or they were found not guilty.
• The individual successfully completed a pre-trial diversion or a conditional discharge program.
• The defendant was below 21 years at the time of the offense
• The individual received a state pardon

If the arrest occurred prior to July 2013, interested parties must apply for restriction with the arresting agency. They must fill out and submit the Request to Restrict Arrest Form to the prosecutor's office. If the prosecutor approves, they circulate the form to all the parties involved through the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC). The approved form and a fee of $25 should be mailed to the Georgia Crime Information Center.

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

However, if the prosecutor objects, the court may hold a hearing to decide whether a record restriction is appropriate. For arrests that occurred after July 2013, and the individual is eligible for automatic restriction, the applicant may contact the prosecutor's office directly.