Dodge County 24 Hour Booking Records

Dodge County 24 hour booking records are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Eastman, Georgia. Situated in central Georgia along the Ocmulgee River, Dodge County is part of the Oconee Judicial Circuit. The county jail processes arrests around the clock and logs every booking as it happens. Checking for recent arrests in Dodge County can be done by calling the sheriff's office or making a formal records request. All booking data falls under Georgia's public records laws, giving the public a right to access this information.

Dodge County 24 Hour Booking Office

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office sits at 85 E. Main Street in Eastman. This is where all booking records for the county are managed. The jail operates around the clock. When someone gets arrested by a Dodge County deputy or a local officer, they end up at this facility. Intake staff go through the booking steps: collecting the person's name, date of birth, charges, and arresting agency information. Each booking gets its own number in the Dodge County system.

Call (478) 374-4711 to reach the sheriff's office. Staff can check whether a person is currently in the Dodge County jail and give basic booking information. For detailed records or copies, the office may ask you to submit a written request. The jail is staffed at all hours since arrests happen at any time, but records personnel usually work normal weekday hours.

Dodge County 24 Hour Booking Access

Georgia's Open Records Act makes booking records public. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, any document prepared or kept by a public agency counts as a public record. That includes the booking log at the Dodge County jail. You can ask to see these records without giving a reason. The law is clear on this point. Initial arrest reports remain public even when an investigation is ongoing, per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office has three business days to respond to your request under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first quarter hour of search time is free. Fees after that are based on the hourly wage of the staff member who does the work. Copies cost about $0.10 per page for Dodge County records. If you expect the total to exceed $500, the office can ask for payment up front before pulling the records you need.

Certain personal information gets removed from Dodge County booking records before they are released to the public. Social security numbers, cell phone numbers, and financial account details are redacted. The rest of the record, including the person's name, charges, arrest date, and booking number, stays intact and open to anyone who asks.

Note: You can file open records requests with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office by phone, mail, or in person at the Eastman office.

How 24 Hour Booking Works in Dodge County

The Dodge County jail in Eastman handles all local bookings. Whether the arrest was made by a deputy, a city police officer, or state patrol, the person goes to this jail for processing. The booking process captures everything needed to create a formal record. Staff take the person's picture, note their physical features, and document the charges on file. The whole process can take a few hours depending on how many people are being processed at the same time.

After booking is complete, bond gets set by a magistrate judge in Dodge County. This usually happens within 48 hours of the arrest. Some charges have set bond amounts that the jail can apply right away. For felonies or more serious charges, a hearing is required before bond is established. The booking record stays on file in Dodge County regardless of whether the person posts bond or stays in jail to wait for court.

Georgia 24 Hour Booking Resources for Dodge County

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers people in state prison but not county jails like the one in Dodge County. If someone was convicted in Dodge County and sent to a state facility, you can find them through the GDC tool. For people still in the Dodge County jail, contact the sheriff's office at (478) 374-4711 instead.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation manages the state criminal history system. This goes beyond a single booking record. A criminal history from the GBI shows all arrests, court results, and custody data across Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, felony conviction records are public without the person's consent. Other records need written authorization. The GBI criminal history FAQ spells out the process in detail.

Below is a screenshot of the Georgia open records request page from the Governor's Office. The rules on this page apply to requests made at any county agency in the state, including the Dodge County Sheriff's Office.

The Governor's open records page covers fees, timelines, and your rights when requesting records from Dodge County or any other Georgia agency.

Dodge County Booking Photo Restrictions

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office cannot post booking photographs on the internet. This is a statewide rule. If you need a booking photo, you must make a formal written request. Your request has to include a statement that the photo will not be used for any purpose that violates the law. Posting mugshots on websites that charge for removal is specifically prohibited.

If a third-party site has your Dodge County booking photo posted without permission, Georgia law gives you options. O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 requires these sites to take the photo down within 30 days of receiving your written request. You need to include your name, date of birth, arrest date, and the arresting agency in Dodge County. Failure to remove the photo can lead to civil and criminal penalties for the website operator.

Record restriction through O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 can seal a Dodge County arrest from your criminal history when charges are dropped or dismissed. The prosecutor must sign off. Send restriction requests to the Georgia Crime Information Center at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037.

Cities in Dodge County

Eastman is the county seat. All arrests across the county are booked at the Dodge County jail in Eastman, no matter which town the arrest occurred in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dodge County in central Georgia. Each one operates its own jail and maintains separate 24 hour booking records.