Search Atkinson County 24 Hour Booking
Atkinson County 24 hour booking records track all recent arrests made in this south Georgia county. The Sheriff's Office in Pearson manages the jail and keeps the booking log up to date. If someone was arrested in Atkinson County within the past day, their record will be in the system. You can check booking details, find out about charges, and look up bond info through the Sheriff's Office. Atkinson County is a small rural county, and the jail in Pearson handles all local arrests from across the area.
Atkinson County Quick Facts
Atkinson County 24 Hour Booking Sheriff's Office
The Atkinson County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It runs the jail and processes all bookings. The office is at 20 E. Roberts Avenue, Pearson, GA 31642. You can call (912) 422-3344 to ask about recent arrests or check if someone is in custody. Staff at the Records Bureau handle 24 hour booking inquiries during normal business hours.
When a person gets arrested in Atkinson County, they are taken to the county jail for processing. The booking creates a record with the person's name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. This record goes into the system right away. The jail operates all day and night, so bookings happen at any time. If you need to find out about a recent arrest in Atkinson County, calling the jail is the fastest way to get answers.
| Address | 20 E. Roberts Avenue, Pearson, GA 31642 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (912) 422-3344 |
Atkinson County Booking Record Access
Booking records in Atkinson County are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 defines what counts as a public record, and booking logs fall under that definition. You do not need to give a reason to ask for these records. Anyone can request them.
To get a copy of a booking record from Atkinson County, you can file an Open Records request with the Sheriff's Office. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the office has three business days to respond. Requests can be made orally or in writing, but putting it in writing helps keep things clear. The first 15 minutes of staff search time is free. After that, you may be charged based on the hourly pay of the employee doing the work. Copies run about $0.10 per page.
Some info gets blacked out before release. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 requires that social security numbers, bank details, and medical info be removed. But the core booking data like names, charges, and arrest dates stays visible in Atkinson County records.
Note: Requests over $500 may need prepayment before the search begins.
Search Atkinson County 24 Hour Booking Records
There are a few ways to search for arrest records in Atkinson County. Calling the jail is quick. Give them a name and they will tell you if that person is there. For a more detailed search, visit the office in Pearson and ask to see the booking log. You can also put in a written request and have records sent to you.
The Georgia Department of Corrections has a statewide offender search, but it only covers state prison inmates. If someone was just arrested and booked at the Atkinson County Jail, the GDC tool will not show them yet. That database is for people who have already been sentenced and sent to a state facility. For county-level booking data, go through the Atkinson County Sheriff's Office.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles criminal history checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, you can request another person's record with their signed consent. Felony convictions are available to the public without consent. The GBI's criminal history FAQ page explains the full process for getting records that go beyond just the latest 24 hour booking in Atkinson County.
Atkinson County Jail Booking Process
When law enforcement in Atkinson County makes an arrest, the person goes to the county jail in Pearson. The booking process starts right away. Officers take a photo and fingerprints. They log the person's full name, address, date of birth, and physical description. Each charge gets entered into the record with a statute code.
Bond is set based on a schedule or by a magistrate judge. Some charges in Atkinson County have a set bond amount. Others need a judge to decide, which can take a few hours. The booking record shows the bond once it is set. If the person posts bond, the record updates to show the release. The Atkinson County Jail keeps this data on file even after the person leaves.
Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 controls what happens with booking photos. The Atkinson County Sheriff's Office cannot post them on a website. You have to request the photo directly and fill out a form that says how you will use it. This rule applies to all law enforcement in Georgia.
Atkinson County Booking Resources
State agencies offer tools that work alongside what the Atkinson County Sheriff's Office provides. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation manages the state's criminal history database. You can see the GBI services directory below for what is available.
The GBI offers fingerprint-based background checks through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service. Results come back in 24 to 48 hours. For Atkinson County arrest records specifically, the Sheriff's Office in Pearson is your best contact.
24 Hour Booking Records Restriction in Atkinson County
Not every arrest stays on a person's record forever. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets people ask to have certain arrests restricted. This works if the charges were dismissed, not presented to a grand jury, or placed on the dead docket. The prosecutor in Atkinson County must approve it.
The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 is another option. If someone got a first offender sentence in Atkinson County and finished all the terms, the charge gets sealed. It will not show on a public background check after that. O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 also requires mugshot websites to take down photos for free if the arrest qualifies for restriction. They have 30 days to comply with a written request.
Note: Only certain case outcomes qualify for restriction in Atkinson County.
Atkinson County Open 24 Hour Booking Records Fees
The Georgia Governor's Office open records page outlines the fee structure that applies to Atkinson County. The first 15 minutes of search time costs nothing. After that, the charge is based on the lowest paid employee qualified to do the search. Copies are $0.10 per page. Electronic records cost whatever the media itself costs.
Most requests for a single booking record from Atkinson County will be cheap or free. The fees only add up if you need a large batch of records or the search takes a long time. The Sheriff's Office will give you a cost estimate before they start if the total might be high.
Cities in Atkinson County
Pearson is the county seat and primary town in Atkinson County. Willacoochee is the other incorporated city. Both are small communities, and all arrests in either town go through the Atkinson County Sheriff's Office for booking.
Nearby Counties
Atkinson County borders several other south Georgia counties. Each one has its own sheriff's office and jail with separate booking records.