Upson County Arrest Records

Arrests become necessary when an individual is believed to have committed a crime. Arrests may arise from observed criminal activity or the execution of an arrest warrant. Law enforcement officers are primarily responsible for carrying out arrests. However, a private citizen is authorized to perform an arrest if a felony offense has been committed or is being attempted in their presence.

After a person is arrested, they are taken into custody and booked. Adult arrestees are generally detained in the county jail, while juveniles are kept in the Macon Regional Youth Detention Center. The Sheriff’s Department runs the county jail, and the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) manages the youth detention center.

Arrest records are often used alongside Upson County court records in criminal cases. Further, individuals who require detailed information about an arrestee’s interaction with the court system can check the related court record.

Are Arrest Records Public in Upson County?

Yes, Upson County arrest records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act, meaning anyone can inspect and obtain copies of an arrest record maintained by law enforcement. However, not all information in an arrest record is open to the public. Georgia law imposes specific restrictions on the kind of information that may be withheld or redacted, including:

• Records of ongoing investigations or prosecutions, except initial arrest and incident reports
• Information that will reveal a confidential source, confidential surveillance, or compromise public safety
• Sensitive personal information like social security, financial, and medical information
• 911 call records tied to the arrest identifying the caller
• Mugshots of non-convicted persons

Additionally, the courts can restrict access to certain parts of an arrest record if deemed necessary.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Individuals may generally find the following information in a public Upson County arrest record:

• The arrestee’s biodata (name, gender, height, and weight)
• The arrestee’s address
• Arrest date
• Number of days spent in jail
• Custody status
• Warrant number
• Statute violated and description of the offense
• Court information
• Bond information

Upson County Arrest Statistics

Law enforcement agencies in Upson County and other Georgia counties forward reports of arrests they make each year to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Bureau, in turn, compiles and analyzes these reports and produces yearly statewide crime statistics.

For Upson County-specific arrest data, individuals can access the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. The dashboard displays arrest statistics of individual police agencies in the county. For example, the Sheriff’s Office reported 257 arrests in 2023, while the Thomaston Police Department reported 556 arrests that same year. Researchers can obtain more recent arrest data by contacting law enforcement agencies in the county.

Find Upson County Arrest Records

Arrest records are primarily maintained by the arresting agency. As such, individuals can obtain these records by going to the respective agency. For an arrest record to be located, the requester must provide some details about the arrest, such as the arrestee's name or the arrest date. To find information about persons currently incarcerated in the county jail, inquirers can check with the sheriff’s office or access the Jail Population portal on the sheriff’s website.

To find information about persons arrested in Upson but currently serving prison time in a Georgia correctional facility, individuals can access the state DOC’s Find an Offender tool. An offender can be searched by name, GDC ID, or case number. The tool also allows partial name searches if the offender's full name is unknown.

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator allows users to search for federal inmates. A search can be performed using an inmate’s name or their FBI, INS, DCDC, or BOP Register number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Upson County

The Jail Population portal on the local sheriff’s website offers free access to information about persons arrested in Upson County. Alternatively, individuals can search for Upson County arrest records on third-party websites. Like the sheriff’s portal, these platforms typically allow searches by name. Unlike the sheriff's portal, however, third-party sites may provide records on individuals no longer in custody, so long as the information is not restricted. Access to third-party platforms may be free, depending on the provider. Some sites may offer limited records at no cost, while others may only display partial information and charge a fee for full access.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely, In Upson County, arrest records are permanently retained and generally accessible. However, under Georgia law, arrest records can be sealed automatically or by court order.

Automatic sealing typically occurs when the defendant is acquitted of the arrest charges and the arrest occurred on or after July 1, 2013. However, if a conviction did occur, sealing is only possible under specific legal conditions and must be formally requested by the record owner. Nonetheless, sealing does not erase or physically destroy a record; it only restricts public access.

Expunge Upson County Arrest Records

In Upson County, true expungement—the complete deletion of an arrest from a person’s criminal record—is not available under Georgia law. However, individuals may have their records sealed, or "restricted", making them inaccessible to the general public. While a sealed record still exists, it will be hidden from most background checks. This process is governed by O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37.

Individuals may be qualified to have their arrest records sealed if one of the following conditions applies:

• The charges were dismissed, not filed, or resulted in an acquittal.
• A specialty court or pretrial diversion program was completed, and no new arrests have occurred.
• They were convicted of a non-exempt misdemeanor, and at least four years have passed since completing the sentence.
• The offense occurred while the person was a victim of human trafficking.
• The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles approved a pardon.
• The case has remained on the dead docket for more than 12 months.
• The conviction was overturned on appeal, and the prosecution did not retry the case within two years.

Certain offenses are excluded from restriction under Georgia law, including:

• Serious violent felonies
• Sexual crimes
• Serious traffic offenses
• Driving Under the Influence (DUIs)

To begin the sealing process, eligible persons may submit a petition to the Upson County Superior Court and follow all necessary application processes. If, after a review, the court finds the petition not to be in conflict with the law and in the best interests of the public, an order may be issued to restrict the record.

Upson County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are documents that demand the arrest of an individual. In Upson County, arrest warrants may be issued by a Superior Court judge, a Magistrate Court judge, or a Municipal Court officer with the authority of a magistrate. Additionally, a retired judge may issue a warrant if given written authorization by an active judge.

However, only a Superior Court judge can issue a special arrest warrant. This type of warrant is reserved for complex or serious cases and is returnable only to the issuing judge once executed. If a special arrest warrant is issued outside of a judge’s judicial circuit, it is treated as a general arrest warrant.

Before a warrant is issued in Upson, a finding of probable cause must be made based on an application submitted by a peace officer or private citizen. The application must allege that the individual to be arrested has violated a penal law. An application made by a private citizen typically involves a warrant hearing where the accused is invited to court to defend themselves. However, the warrant application hearing may be skipped and a warrant issued immediately if:

• There is a threat to public safety.
• The accused is a fugitive from justice.
• The accused may try to evade or obstruct justice if notified of the hearing.

An arrest warrant issued in Upson County contains the following information:

• A statement describing the offense committed
• Time, date, and place of the offense
• The person against whom the crime was committed (if applicable)
• The county of commitment

Do Upson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Arrest warrants do not expire in Upson County. Once a warrant is issued, it remains in effect until the appropriate law enforcement agency has arrested the named individual.

However, certain circumstances may affect the execution or status of an arrest warrant, such as the defendant's death or a court decision to recall or quash the warrant. The court may recall a warrant if the underlying issues that necessitated the warrant's issuance have been resolved or the warrant is defective. However, a defective warrant may only prolong execution but not deter it, as a new warrant will most likely be issued as long as the grounds for arrest exist.