Thomas County Arrest Records

Thomas County arrest records are the records documenting arrests that occurred within the county’s jurisdiction. These are generated by the arresting agencies such as the local sheriff’s office.

Chapter 4 in Title 17 of the Georgia Code authorizes law enforcement to arrest and take offenders into custody. Suspects arrested in Thomas County are usually held at the Thomas County Jail maintained by the sheriff. After processing, the suspect will be arraigned before a judge who will determine, using the case's particulars, if the offender remains in custody or is granted bail.

Thomas County arrest records are available from arresting agencies such as the local sheriff’s office or as part of criminal histories from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. If a case went to trial, arrest records can typically be found included in Thomas County Court Records maintained by state and local judiciary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Thomas County?

Thomas County arrest records are considered public according to the Georgia Open Records Act. The law provides that unless specifically stated, government agencies must provide access to public records including arrest records. However, not all records are accessible to the general public. Some of the following records are classified as restricted or confidential by the act for various reasons.

• Arrest records concerning juveniles and minors
• Records covered by privileges such as attorney-to-client and doctor-to-patient privilege
• Records that would constitute an unnecessary invasion of privacy
• Records that have been sealed or expunged

It is possible to request certain restricted records with a court order, but confidential bits may be removed or redacted. Only law enforcement and the subject of such records may be able to access the full record.

Thomas County Arrest Statistics

Thomas County law enforcement agencies, such as the sheriff’s office, submit crime data to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database. The records submitted in 2023 show that the sheriff’s office reported 465 arrests in 2023. The tally included 105 arrests for drug/narcotic offenses, 72 arrests for simple assaults, 36 arrests for disorderly conduct, 34 arrests for driving under the influence, 26 arrests for larceny, 18 arrests for aggravated assaults, 16 assaults for vandalism, 13 arrests for weapons violations, eight arrests for fraud, six arrests for motor vehicle theft, and one arrest each for homicide and forgery.

Find Thomas County Arrest Records

Interested parties may obtain Thomas County arrest records from local law enforcement, such as the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office. Requests and inquiries can be directed in person or by phone, mail, and fax to the sheriff’s office at:

Thomas County Sheriff's Office
921 Smith Avenue
P.O. Box 588.
Thomasville, GA 31799
Phone: (229) 225-3300
Fax: (229) 225-3400

Inmate information requests may be directed to the Thomas County Jail by calling (229) 225-3312 or (404) 656-4661

Alternatively, the Georgia Department of Corrections Find an Offender search tool allows users to search for inmates housed in facilities all over the state.

Thomas County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest warrants and criminal records for Thomas County are legal documents recording an individual’s interactions with the justice system. Some distinctions between these records include what information they contain and which agencies generate them.

Arrest records are generated by arresting agencies and only detail arrests that occurred within the county jurisdiction. The record will contain details of the arrest, including the suspect's identity, description, charges filed, arresting agencies, and booking information. A criminal record is more extensive and contains the individual’s full criminal history. Criminal records are a mix of records generated by different agencies and contain records of an individual’s arrests, court cases, and prison time.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Georgia, an arrest will typically remain on a person’s record indefinitely until they take steps to expunge or seal the record. Depending on the type of record and the particulars of the case, arrest records in Georgia may qualify for restriction or sealing.

Arrests not leading to prosecutions because no charges were brought or the case was dismissed qualify for automatic expungement. Misdemeanors will be automatically restricted after two years, arrests for felonies are restricted after four years, and serious sex-related and violent felonies are restricted after seven years.

Thomas County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents issued by judicial officers in Thomas County ordering them to arrest a suspect and bring them before the court. The workings of arrest warrants in Georgia are covered in Article 3 of Chapter 4 in Georgia’s Criminal Procedures.

Judges and municipal officers are granted the power of a magistrate, and any retired judge or judge emeritus authorized in writing by an active judge in the county is authorized to issue arrest warrants in Georgia.

To obtain an arrest warrant, a law enforcement or peace officer must submit an application to the court showing probable cause that the person on the warrant committed an offense. Private citizens can also make a warrant application. However, the court must convene a hearing, and the person on the warrant must be notified. Warrant applicants on issuance hearings can be done through electronic means, including video conferences.

During the application hearing, the judicial officer will listen to a petition explaining why the warrant is required. The subject of the warrant may also attend to defend themselves. If the judge is satisfied with the evidence showing probable cause, they may issue the warrant.

Arrest warrants issued in Thomas County can be executed anywhere in Georgia and typically contain the following.

• The name of the suspect on the warrant and a reasonable description
• The name of the complainant who applied for the warrant
• The date and county where the warrant was issued
• The crime the warrant is for and the Georgia statute it violated
• Instructions to all law enforcement in the state to apprehend the suspect(Order of Arrest)
• The name, signature, and title of the judicial officer who issued the warrant

Do Thomas County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In general, arrest warrants issued in Thomas County do not have an expiry date. Until the subject of the records is arrested, turns themself in, or successfully gets the warrant set aside, the warrant does not expire. However, there is a statute of limitations on how long an issued warrant can be used. For example, warrants issued for certain low-level felonies are active for 7 years, while warrants for misdemeanors are active for 5 years. A warrant for a serious felony will remain in effect indefinitely. When the statute of limitation passes without a warrant being executed, law enforcement may renew the warrant at the issuing court.