Spalding County Arrest Records

In Spalding County, law enforcement agencies make arrests when there is sufficient reason to believe the criminal statute of the county or state has been violated. The arrest can be made while the crime is ongoing or following a court warrant. Depending on the nature of the crime or the agency that conducted the arrests, offenders are usually detained at the Spalding County Detention Center or transferred to a state or federal correctional facility.

Records generated after a person has been arrested can sometimes be linked to other public records, such as Spalding County court records that contain information on the progression of criminal charges, hearings, and eventual outcomes like convictions or dismissals. This relationship between arrest records and other public documents allows for a comprehensive view of an individual's legal history within the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Spalding County?

Yes. In Spalding County, arrest records are public records pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act. Individuals who access these documents can expect to find details about the arrested individual, the charges levied against them, the arresting agency, and the booking information. However, certain records—such as juvenile records, ongoing investigations, private information about witnesses, and sensitive personal information like social security numbers and medical records—have legally mandated exemptions unless subpoenaed by third parties.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following details can be found in Spalding County arrest records:

• Full name, birthdate, and sex.
• Physical attributes: weight, height, eye color, hair color, etc.
• Details of the arrest: arresting agency, the name and badge number of the officer, and the date, time, and location.
• List and description of charges
• Offense classification (felony, misdemeanor, or traffic infraction)
• Booking information: date, time, booking number
• Mugshot or booking photo
• Bail and bonds details: amount, type (cash or surety), and conditions
• Court information: Case number, assigned judge, date, time, and place of the hearing
• Additional details: Any aliases or previous names, relevant prior arrest records, comments made by the arresting officer, etc.

Spalding County Arrest Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) publishes arrest and offense statistics aggregated from each county on the Crime Data Explorer website. According to the FBI data, the Spalding County Sheriff's Office recorded 10,029 arrests during the last five years (2019 - 2023). Of those, arrests for petty crimes were most common at 6,623 (66%), followed by drug/narcotic offenses at 1066 (11%), simple assault at 869 (9%), aggravated assault at 220 (2.19%), larceny at 211 (2.1%), driving under influence at 149 (1.5%).

Find Spalding County Arrest Records

Arrest records may be obtained by contacting the agency that conducted the arrest, usually the Spalding County Sheriff's Office. Every office has its procedures and fees for requesting and receiving records but most allow online, mail-in, and in-person requests. Regardless of the chosen method, requestors will need to provide the necessary details to facilitate a search.

• Full names of the arrested person
• Arrestee's birthdate (if known)
• Date and place of the incident.

In-person requestors may also need to provide their contact details and possess a valid photo ID when visiting the Sheriff's Office. Interested persons may contact the Spalding County Detention Center or the Sheriff's Office to obtain local arrest records.

Spalding County Detention Center
401 Justice Boulevard
Griffin, GA 30224
Phone: (770) 467-4282

Interested persons may look up persons in state prisons through the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search portal. Similarly, requesters can locate federal inmates using the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Spalding County

Under Georgia's Open Records Act, requesters can access public records, including arrest records, from any public agency, such as the Sheriff's Office or State Police. Nonetheless, it could be necessary to submit a formal request, and while this process is often free, there could be a small fee for copies of records.

Alternatively, there are third-party websites that provide online access to these records. Many of these websites allow interested persons to lookup free arrest records. However, the results for free searches may be limited. To access comprehensive details, searchers may need to pay a one-time fee or subscribe to the platform. When using third-party services to access arrest records, remember that these sources are not affiliated with the government. As such, the accuracy and completeness of records obtained via these means may vary.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Spalding County, arrests generally stay on record forever unless expunged. Even if criminal charges are dismissed or not prosecuted, the arrest record may still be accessible if not redacted. Nevertheless, persons with arrest records may apply for an expungement if they meet the requirements.

Expunge Spalding County Arrest Records

Persons who wish to expunge (restrict) their arrest record may follow the four-step process outlined by the Georgia government. Generally, the process involves:

• Obtaining and evaluating one's criminal record.
• Filing a court petition.
• Court review.
• Court issuance of an expungement order.

Expungement petitions are typically filed in the county where the arrest was made. Applicants can obtain an authorized copy of their criminal history or the court's decision to seal their case from the agency that carried out the arrest or the prosecutor's office. Necessary forms can be obtained online (if the arrest occurred before July 1, 2013) or from the prosecutor's office (if the arrest occurred on or after July 1, 2013). Persons who have their expungement petition denied have 30 days to file an appeal with the Spalding County Superior Court.

Expungement is the legal procedure that removes an arrest or criminal record from public access, essentially sealing the record from most background checks. Applicants for licenses, jobs, and housing can do so without worrying that a background check will reveal information about their record if it is restricted and has been redacted. Although such criminal records may still be accessible to law enforcement agencies or secondary to a court order, they can neither be permanently removed nor destroyed. Certain misdemeanor offenses and closed cases with no convictions are among the arrests that are subject to expungement.

Spalding County Arrest Warrants

In Spalding County, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge that grants law enforcement authority to arrest someone suspected of a crime. It is issued based on probable cause, usually following a complaint from law enforcement or a private citizen. Arrest warrants may also be issued for failure to appear in court or probation violations. The warrant contains the person's name, the offense, supporting facts, and the judge's signature. Once issued, police can arrest the person named. Arrest warrants remain active until executed or recalled by the court, ensuring legal grounds for arrests and due process.

Do Spalding County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Spalding County are valid until executed or revoked by a judge. When executing a warrant, law officers may enter a person's residence if they suspect they are there. Since Georgia does not have a statute of limitations for warrants, arrests may happen years after the warrant is issued. One can do the following to have an arrest warrant revoked or quashed:

• Voluntarily surrender to the authorities
• Hire an attorney to petition the court to revoke the warrant.
• Visit the court to resolve the underlying issue (such as missing a hearing).