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  2. Houston County Arrest Records

Houston County, Georgia Arrest Records

Houston County arrest records are documents indicating that a person was detained, questioned, and charged for committing an act that is deemed an offense under the state's criminal law.

Depending on the jurisdiction, arrest incidents in Houston County may be handled by the Houston County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Warner Robins Police Department and the Perry Police Department. These departments oversee daily patrol, emergency response, crime investigations, and maintain reports of arrests occurring within their jurisdiction. Arrest records are regulated by the state's transparency and public access guidelines which stipulates the conditions for release and withholding under the Georgia Open Records Act.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Houston, Georgia?

Houston County arrest records have a public record status under Georgia Law. Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). Under state law, anyone may submit a request to inspect or copy specific records and custodians are required to respond within 3 business days of the request submission. If a record is exempt from public disclosure, custodians are to cite the exact code, section, and subsection authorizing retention.

What Do Public Houston County Arrest Records Contain?

Most Houston County arrest records search may return the following details:

  • The name of the arrested person
  • Personal identifiers
  • The date, time, and place of arrest
  • The photograph of the arrestee of available
  • The charge
  • The arresting agency
  • Dispositions or sentences arising from the charge
  • Arrest date
  • Release date

Certain details or entire records may be exempt from public disclosure under state law. Some common examples include:

  • The identity of an informant;
  • Misdemeanors;
  • Confidential investigation or prosecution materials likely to endanger the life or physical safety of any person or persons; or
  • The existence of a confidential surveillance or investigation.
  • Sealed or expunged record

Houston County, Georgia Arrest Search

Arrestees who were prosecuted and convicted of a felony offense in Houston County, Georgia, may sometimes be remanded to the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). The Georgia Department of Corrections search tool allows individuals to search for specific offenders by name, ID, or case number, and other identifying information.

If the arrest resulted in criminal charges being filed, Houston County provides access to criminal cases. The County's Online Service Page offers individuals the avenue to search through State, Superior, and Magistrate Court Cases. These court records may be particularly useful for:

  • criminal charges;
  • case numbers;
  • court proceedings;
  • pending cases; and
  • case dispositions.

Arrests within Houston County are sometimes carried out by federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When an arrest is executed pursuant to a federal law, they are usually found on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) System. This online search tool provides criminal case files, including arrests and final dispositions of federal detainees. Registered users may utilize this online resource to search for criminal case files tied to an arrest by name or case number for a fee.

If the arrestee has been prosecuted and convicted, searchers may resort to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP Inmate Locator tool. The online tool allows individuals to conduct searches for inmates by name or case file number.

Houston County Inmate Locator

At the county level, the Houston County Sheriff's Office is tasked with the duty to protect lives and properties, which it does by enforcing state laws, apprehending violators of the law, repressing crimes, and managing persons confined to the state's detention center.

The Houston County Sheriff's website features an inmate search option that allows individuals to look up the custody information of individuals who were arrested and detained in municipalities across Houston County. Individuals may conduct searches by providing the inmate's name, race, arrest date, and release date.

For in person requests, the Records Division of Houston County Sheriff's Office handles all requests by the public for copies of arrest reports. Consequently, the Sheriff's Office processes all open records requests that are forwarded to Sheriff's Office administration.

Those who have questions or need assistance may contact the Sheriff's Office at:

Houston County Sheriff's Office

202 Carl Vinson Parkway

Warner Robins, GA 31088

Office: 478-542-2125

Houston County Sheriff's Office

201 Perry Parkway

Perry, GA 31069

Office: 478-218-4790

Houston County Sheriff's Office Reserve Unit

202 Carl Vinson Parkway

Warner Robins, GA 31088

Office: 478-542-2125

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Houston County

Arrest information pertaining to persons arrested and detained in Houston County, Georgia, may be accessed free of charge through the inmate search tool featured on the Houston County Sheriff's Office website. Individuals seeking arrest information will need to visit the website, navigate to "online services" then click on "Inmate Search" to access the search portal. Searches may be made by providing the inmate's name, race, arrest date, and release date.

The portal deals with recent arrests and may not reflect older arrest information. Additionally, records contained in these portals may not reflect information redacted or withheld subject to the order of a court.

Houston County Arrest Report

Although often used interchangeably, arrest reports and arrest records are distinct types of records. An arrest report is a law enforcement document prepared in connection with an arrest to depict the circumstances surrounding the incident. It may contain information such as the facts supporting probable cause, the date, time and location of arrest, alleged offense, arresting agency, and other relevant details. Arrest reports form the personal files of law enforcement and may be used in the investigation and subsequent prosecuting of an alleged offense. Although the complete reports are often not public, the applicable state law may allow individuals to see certain details, subject to exemptions permitted by state law.

By contrast, arrest records are summary entries in judicial or custodial databases that depict the fact that a person was arrested, their fingerprint, booking photos, and detention. Unlike an arrest report, arrest records are concise and typically do not provide a context to the arrest, except that the individual was arrested and detained in custody. While it logs the initial arrest, a complete criminal history may later update to show the final court disposition (such as dismissal, acquittal, or conviction).

Arrest reports and arrest records typically do not show a final court result if the state dropped the case or the defendant was found not guilty. Therefore, they should not be taken as evidence of the individual's guilt. True proof of conviction may be found in separate court dispositions, not in police arrest files.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Houston County

Georgia law allows individuals to remove arrest records from their criminal background history through a process known as "Records Restriction". While in most jurisdiction expungement is a process that allows arrest or conviction to be erased from a person's criminal background so that it is as if the offense never occurred, Georgia's Records Restriction program restricts the record from public disclosure and allows only specified entities, such the person on record, authorized law enforcement, and the court to access it.

To get a record sealed under Georgia law, individuals must first confirm that their arrest or conviction possesses the eligible criteria for sealing under Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37).

To expunge records of arrest occurring before July 1st 2013, individuals must:

  • Fill out the Request to Restrict Arrest Record Form
  • The completed form should be forwarded to the prosecuting attorney. If approved, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) will update the record to reflect its restricted status, and notify the applicant.
  • If the prosecuting attorney cannot update the record electronically, the applicant may have to complete the process manually. They would have to take the completed application to the arresting agency.
  • Applicants may be advised to send the approved Request to Restrict Arrest Record form and $25.00 fee (money order or certified check payable to "Georgia Bureau of Investigation") to:

Georgia Crime Information Center

Record Restrictions

P.O. Box 370808 Decatur

Georgia 30037-0808

If the arrest occurred prior to July 1st 2013, the arresting agency is solely responsible for processing the expungement request.

How Do You Remove Houston County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Once the Record Restriction is applied, arrest records published on official government databases will automatically be cleared and public access restricted.

Nevertheless, arresting agencies typically have no control over records published on private websites. Consequently, individuals seeking removal of an arrest record from the internet will need to follow the relevant websites procedure. Most websites have an "opt out option" that the public may use to remove records from the internet.

Users may also locate the Google de-index option and utilize this feature to make it so that the web page bearing their arrest record doesn't appear on most Houston County arrest records search results.