Echols County 24 Hour Booking Records

Echols County 24 hour booking records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Statenville, Georgia. This is the least populated county in the state, sitting along the Florida border in south Georgia. Despite its small size, Echols County operates a jail and processes arrest bookings just like every other county in Georgia. The sheriff's office keeps a log of all intakes. You can search for recent Echols County bookings by calling the office or filing a records request. Georgia's open records law gives you the right to access booking data from the Echols County jail.

Echols County Sheriff 24 Hour Booking Office

The Echols County Sheriff's Office is at 129 E. 1st Street in Statenville. This is the only law enforcement office in the county, and it handles all arrest bookings for the area. The jail processes intakes when they happen. In a county this small, the sheriff's office and the jail operate closely together. Staff collect the arrested person's details, record the charges, and log the booking in the system.

Call (229) 559-5603 to reach the Echols County Sheriff's Office. Given the low population, the volume of bookings is much smaller than in metro areas. But the rules are the same. Every arrest still creates a formal booking record that goes into the Echols County log. Staff can tell you if someone is currently in custody and share basic information about their charges.

Echols County is Georgia's smallest county by population. Statenville is not even an incorporated city. Still, the county has its own jail and court system. All 24 hour booking records are available through the sheriff's office under state law.

Note: Due to the small staff size in Echols County, calling ahead before visiting is a good idea.

Echols County Booking Record Requests

Booking records from the Echols County jail are public under Georgia's Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 defines all records kept by a public agency as public documents. The Echols County Sheriff's Office qualifies as a public agency. You can request booking records without explaining why you want them. Initial arrest reports stay open even during pending investigations under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.

The response time is three business days per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first quarter hour of search time costs nothing. Fees after that are based on the lowest-paid staff member who can handle the work. Copies cost about $0.10 per page. In Echols County, most records requests should be simple and fast given the lower volume of bookings. Social security numbers and financial details get redacted before release. The name, charges, and arrest date stay visible.

The Governor's Office open records page explains the full process for making these requests. The same rules apply to Echols County as they do to Fulton County or any other jurisdiction in the state.

How Arrest Booking Works in Echols County

When someone is arrested in Echols County, they are taken to the jail in Statenville. The intake process follows the same steps you would see anywhere in Georgia. Staff collect the person's name, date of birth, address, and physical details. They document the charges and the arresting officer's information. A booking number gets assigned. This becomes the reference number for the record in the Echols County system.

Bond is set by a magistrate judge. In Echols County, this typically happens within 48 hours of the arrest. Some charges have a preset bond schedule that the jail can apply immediately. Others require the judge to hold a hearing. The booking record stays on file whether the person posts bond or stays in custody at the Echols County jail.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18, booking photos from the Echols County jail cannot be posted online by the sheriff's office. This is a statewide rule that covers every county. If you need a booking photograph, submit a written request and state that you will use it legally.

Georgia Resources for Echols County 24 Hour Bookings

If someone booked in Echols County gets sentenced to state prison, they are transferred to a Georgia Department of Corrections facility. The GDC offender search covers state prisons only. It does not include the Echols County jail. For people still in county custody, call the Echols County Sheriff's Office.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps criminal history records for the entire state through the Georgia Crime Information Center. A criminal history record covers all of a person's arrests in Georgia, not just one booking event in Echols County. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, felony conviction records are public without the person's consent. For a fingerprint-based check, use the Georgia Applicant Processing Service.

The screenshot below shows the GDC offender search information page. You can use this tool to find anyone who moved from the Echols County jail into the state prison system.

The GDC offender search tool is a free resource for tracking inmates who left county jails like Echols County for state prison facilities.

Restricting Echols County 24 Hour Booking Records

If charges from an Echols County arrest were dismissed or never prosecuted, you may qualify for record restriction. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows the sealing of arrest records when the prosecutor approves. Qualifying dispositions include dismissals, nolle prosequi, charges not presented to a grand jury, and dead docketed cases. Once restricted, the Echols County arrest shows only to courts and criminal justice agencies.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 is another option. If you completed a first offender sentence for an Echols County case, you are exonerated of guilt and the record gets sealed. Submit restriction applications to the Georgia Crime Information Center at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. The GBI FAQ page has more information about how restriction works in Georgia.

Note: Convictions from Echols County cases cannot be restricted under current Georgia law.

Cities in Echols County

Statenville serves as the county seat but is unincorporated. All arrests are processed at the county jail in Statenville.

Nearby Counties

Echols County is in far south Georgia near the Florida line. These neighboring counties each keep their own booking records and run separate jails.