Ware County Arrest Records

In Ware County, arrests occur when a person is suspected of committing a crime, and a police officer has either probable cause or an arrest warrant issued by a judge. A law enforcement officer makes arrests to ensure defendants appear in court and to safeguard the public from potential harm. Following an arrest, the individual may be detained at the Ware County Jail, a local police station, or a state prison, depending on the nature of the offense.

The Ware County Sheriff’s Office oversees the creation of arrest records, which form part of a broader system of public records, including Ware County Court Records and inmate records. Arrest records are often linked to court records to provide a comprehensive trail of judicial proceedings and outcomes related to an arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ware County?

Yes. The Georgia Open Records Law governs the public disclosure of arrest records. It allows all citizens to view or copy arrest records of law enforcement agencies in the state, including those in Ware County. Under O.C.G.A. §50-18-72, some arrest records are deemed confidential for privacy reasons. Some examples of such records are ongoing investigatory records, medical records, and arrest records of juveniles. Additionally, arrest records whose disclosure would expose the identity of a confidential source are not available to the public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public Ware County arrest records typically contain the following information:

• The offender’s mugshot, full name, age, sex, height, address, and weight
• Custody status, days in jail, and total bond
• Arrest date and time
• Warrant number and charge count, statute, and description
• Release date, offense type, court, and inmate ID

Ware County Arrest Statistics

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Inmate Statistical Profile, about 93 arrestees were admitted from Ware County in 2023. Ware State Prison houses approximately 353 inmates, while 107 inmates were convicted for primary offenses originating in Ware County.

Find Ware County Arrest Records

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Facilities Division is in charge of 34 state prisons that house nearly 47,000 offenders. Individuals can visit any of these prisons to inquire about the arrest records of Ware County offenders. Additionally, the GDC has an Offender Search that can be used to find arrest information for Ware County offenders currently imprisoned in state prisons. Users can search by name/description or ID/ case number.

Individuals who cannot find their desired records at the GDC can contact federal law enforcement agencies, such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the United States Capitol Police (USCP). Some of these agencies make their records available to the public through online databases for free, while the FBI restricts access to its records. Generally, record seekers can retrieve arrest records maintained by federal law enforcement agencies online, by mail, and in person during business hours.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ware County

The Ware County Sheriff’s Office provides an online portal where residents can find arrest information of inmates for free. Users can search using a name or booking date or just scroll through the inmate list to find the appropriate record. Individuals can also use third-party platforms to find Ware County arrest records without charges. This free option will return basic arrest information that is useful for identifying a record. Users who want detailed arrest reports must pay a small fee for such services.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to Georgia Law, most arrest records are permanent and can only be restricted from the public. However, the Georgia Archives’ Arrest Record Retention Schedules highlight the timeframe of some arrest records. For example, inmate case files and jail booking records are destroyed ten (10) years after release. Civil arrest order log books, investigation logs, and executed arrest warrants are destroyed after three (3) years.

Expunge Ware County Arrest Records

According to O.C.G.A. §35-3-37, expungement restricts public access to a person’s arrest record and makes them public to only a select few, such as judicial officials and criminal justice agencies. To expunge an arrest record, the applicant must send a Request to Restrict (Expunge) Records form to the arresting agency. The applicant must complete Section One of the form, while the arresting agency must complete Section Two. The arresting agency will send the form to the prosecuting attorney for approval. The prosecutor can approve or deny the request and return the form to the arresting agency. If the prosecutor approves the request, the arresting agency will return the form to the applicant. The applicant will send the approved request form and a $25 fee to the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) by mail or in person. Applicants can check the status of their requests by contacting the GCIC CCH/Identification Services by phone at (404) 244-2639 or by email at gacriminalhistory@gbi.ga.gov.

Ware County Arrest Warrants

The O.C.G.A. § 17-4-40 permits a judicial officer to issue arrest warrants when they have probable cause based on personal knowledge or information that an offender has committed a crime. An arrest warrant can be issued in any county, even if the crime was committed in another county. After issuance, a law enforcement officer can execute the warrant in any county (O.C.G.A. § 17-4-44). Per O.C.G.A. § 17-4-46, an arrest warrant contains the following information:

• The name of the issuing county
• The affiant’s name
• The issuing date
• The name of the person against whom the arrest warrant is sought
• A description of the offense committed by the defendant
• A command that a law enforcement officer arrests the defendant and brings them before the issuing or some other judicial officer

Do Ware County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Ware County do not expire. Once issued, they remain valid until the defendant is arrested and brought before the judge or the issuing judge cancels them. While an arrest warrant does not expire, the underlying offense committed by the defendant may be subject to a statute of limitations. If the crime’s statute of limitations has passed, the defendant can seek the dismissal of the case.