Putnam County Arrest Records

Arrest records contain official information about persons arrested and taken into custody. These records capture the essential details of an arrest, such as the name of the arrested individual and the reason for arrest.

Under Georgia Code (§ 17-4-20), a law enforcement officer in Putnam County may arrest an individual when the officer witnesses a crime in progress or there is probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.

As the primary law enforcement agency in Putnam, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office is responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records within the county. Arrest records may feed into the Putnam County Court Records, where the arrestee was charged and arraigned in court for trial. Convicted individuals are held at the Putnam County Jail in Eatonton, the County's primary detention facility.

Are Arrest Records Public in Putnam County?

Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), arrest records in Putnam County are considered public information and are generally accessible to the public. However, specific records or parts of a record may be closed to protect private interests where they outweigh public interests.

For instance, the following details are generally not accessible:

• Booking photographs under Section 35-1-19 (which generally prohibits their disclosure).
• Audio recordings of a 9-1-1 telephone call may be exempt from disclosure if they contain the speech in distress of a caller who died during the call or the speech or cries of a minor at the time of the call.

For those seeking physical access or in-person inquiries, the contact information for the Putnam County Sheriff's Office is as follows:

Putnam County Sheriff's Office
111 Ridley Drive
Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: (706) 485-8557

Putnam County Arrest Statistics

In recent years, Putnam County, Georgia, has reported varying violent crime rates per 100,000 population. In 2023 and 2022, the violent crime rate was recorded at 13.58. For 2021, the rate was slightly lower at 13.13. Historically, in 2012, Putnam County's violent crime rate was significantly higher at 537.3 per 100,000 population, exceeding the state's rate of 366.4 at that time.

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Data (FBI UCR), combined violent and property crime offenses known to law enforcement in Putnam County were reported as 196 in 2021. Regarding arrests, from 2013 to 2023, there were a total of 3,879 arrests reported in Putnam County. A substantial portion, 67%, of these arrests were for low-level, non-violent offenses. Violent crimes accounted for a smaller percentage of arrests, at 6%. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office also indicates that they average over 90 monthly jail bookings.

Find Putnam County Arrest Records

Several official resources can help you locate Putnam County arrest records:

Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Offender Search:

The GDC's online search portal provides access to information on inmates currently held in state prisons or under community supervision. Individuals can search for incarcerated inmates by name, GDC ID, or case number.
To find an Offender, visit the website, select the "Find an Offender" option, and enter the offender's name, ID, or case number. The search results would display information about the inmate.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office:

This is the most direct source for arrest information. Residents may request records by visiting the office in person at:

Putnam County Sheriff's Office
111 Ridley Drive
Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: (706) 485-8557

Researchers can also submit a written request under Georgia's Open Records Act. Forms are available on the county's official website or in the office.

Putnam County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records document the apprehension of an individual by law enforcement but do not indicate guilt or a final legal resolution. These records show that someone was suspected of committing a crime and taken into custody.

In contrast, criminal records contain more comprehensive information, including conviction history, sentencing, plea deals, probation, and incarceration. While an arrest record may be included within a criminal record, not all arrests lead to convictions. For this reason, criminal records are typically used for background checks in employment, housing, and firearms purchases, while arrest records are more limited in scope.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Putnam County, arrests may remain on a person's record indefinitely unless expunged, restricted, or sealed. State law allows for restricting certain arrest records under Georgia Code O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, particularly if the individual was never formally charged or if charges were dismissed or resulted in acquittal.

Expungement is not automatic. The individual must meet specific criteria and formally request record restrictions through the appropriate channels. Eligibility requirements include being acquitted of the charges, dismissed charges, the prosecution not pursuing the case (nolle prosequi), or the person being wrongly arrested. However, certain serious offenses, including felonies and specific misdemeanors, may not be eligible for record restriction under the Georgia Code.

Putnam County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Putnam County is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to arrest a specific individual. These warrants are generally issued when there is probable cause that the individual has committed a crime.

To obtain a warrant in Putnam County, Law enforcement agencies typically submit an affidavit or complaint outlining the circumstances that justify the warrant.

The content of an arrest warrant is a requirement of law (Georgia Code § 17-4-41). As such, most arrest warrants include:

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

A warrant may be issued for various reasons, including failing to appear in court, violating probation, or being the subject of a criminal investigation.

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 Putnam County.

Do Putnam County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Putnam County, arrest warrants remain active indefinitely until the suspect named by the warrant is arrested or the warrant is recalled by the issuing court. While the statute of limitations dictates the time frame for initiating prosecution for a crime, it does not automatically invalidate an existing warrant; an attorney may need to file a motion to quash it.

Expunge Putnam County Arrest Records

State Code allows individuals to restrict or expunge arrest records under certain circumstances. In Putnam County, 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. Eligibility: 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. Submit a Request: 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. Judicial Review: 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.