Access Burke County 24 Hour Booking

Burke County 24 hour booking records are managed by the sheriff's office in Waynesboro, Georgia. Burke County is the largest county in the state by land area, and the sheriff's office covers all of it. The county jail in Waynesboro processes every arrest that happens within Burke County lines. Booking details are logged around the clock, and the records are public under Georgia law. You can search for recent arrests by calling the sheriff's office, visiting in person, or submitting a written open records request for formal copies of booking data.

Burke County 24 Hour Booking Office

The Burke County Sheriff's Office is at 225 S. Liberty Street in Waynesboro. This is where the county jail is located and where all bookings take place. When a deputy or local officer arrests someone in Burke County, the person comes here for processing. Staff takes a booking photo, collects fingerprints, and records the charges. Bond amounts are added when a magistrate sets bail. The jail operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Because Burke County is so large geographically, arrests can happen far from the jail. But every booking goes through the same facility in Waynesboro. The Waynesboro Police Department, Sardis Police, and other small-town agencies in the county all bring their arrests to this jail. The sheriff's office maintains one unified booking log for the entire county.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides statewide criminal history data that includes Burke County arrests.

The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which compiles arrest data from Burke County and every other county in the state.

How to Search Burke County 24 Hour Booking

To check on a booking in Burke County, call (706) 554-2133. Jail staff can tell you if someone is in custody and share the charges and bond. You can also visit the sheriff's office at 225 S. Liberty Street in Waynesboro. Walk-in requests for booking information are handled during regular hours. If you want a formal copy, submit a written request under the Georgia Open Records Act.

O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 declares all booking records public. Anyone can ask for them. You do not need to provide a reason. The Burke County Sheriff's Office has three business days to respond under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of staff time are free. After that, fees follow the standard Georgia formula based on the hourly pay of the lowest qualified employee. Copy costs are about $0.10 per page. If the estimated total exceeds $500, the office can require prepayment before starting on your Burke County records request.

Note: Include the person's full name and approximate arrest date in your written request to help the staff locate the right records.

Burke County Booking Record Details

Each Burke County booking record has the person's full name and date of birth. The charges are listed by type and severity. Bond amounts are shown when set. The arresting agency is identified, which could be the sheriff's office, Waynesboro Police, or another local agency. The booking date and time are documented. Every booking gets a unique number for tracking.

Georgia law requires redaction of certain details before release. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, social security numbers, financial account information, and medical records must be removed. Juvenile records are sealed. Initial arrest reports are always public, even during open investigations. This applies to Burke County and every other county in the state. Booking photographs are subject to O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 restrictions.

Criminal History Checks for Burke County 24

A booking in Burke County is one part of a person's statewide criminal record. The GBI maintains the Georgia Crime Information Center with arrest and court data from all counties. For a thorough check, use the GAPS fingerprinting service. Results take one to two days. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, you need written consent to access another person's full history. Felony conviction data is the only part available to the public without consent.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search shows state prison inmates. Burke County jail inmates are not in that system. For local records, the sheriff's office in Waynesboro is the only source. Use both the local and state resources together for the most complete picture of someone's criminal background.

Sealing 24 Hour Booking Records in Burke County

Georgia allows record restriction for arrests that did not end in conviction. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, if your Burke County charges were dismissed, not prosecuted, or nolle prossed, you can apply to restrict the record. The prosecutor has to approve it. Once restricted, the arrest drops off public background checks. Only judges and law enforcement can view it after that.

Under the First Offender Act at O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, completing a first offender sentence leads to exoneration and the charge is sealed. This applies to Burke County cases like any other in Georgia. For mugshots on third-party websites, O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 mandates free removal when the arrest qualifies for restriction. Send the site a written request with your name, date of birth, arrest date, and the arresting agency. They must take it down within 30 days.

Note: Guilty verdicts and guilty pleas are not eligible for restriction under Georgia law, no matter where the arrest happened.

Nearby Georgia Counties

Burke County borders several other east Georgia counties. Check neighboring jurisdictions if you need to verify where an arrest was booked.