Oconee County 24 Hour Booking Records
Oconee County 24 hour booking records are maintained by the sheriff's office in Watkinsville. Located just south of Athens in northeast Georgia, Oconee County has a population over 42,000 and continues to grow. The county jail processes bookings at all hours. Every arrest in Oconee County generates a booking record that includes the person's name, charges, bond information, and custody status. These records are open to the public under Georgia's open records law.
Oconee County Quick Facts
Oconee County Sheriff Booking Office
The Oconee County Sheriff's Office is at 1191 Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville, GA 30677. Call (706) 769-3945 for information about recent bookings or people currently in custody. The sheriff oversees the jail and all law enforcement operations across the county. The jail processes new intakes around the clock.
Oconee County sits next to Clarke County, which contains Athens. Many Oconee County residents have ties to the Athens area. But if an arrest happens within Oconee County lines, the booking goes through the Oconee County jail, not the Clarke County facility. Jurisdiction depends on where the arrest took place.
| Agency | Oconee County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1191 Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville, GA 30677 |
| Phone | (706) 769-3945 |
| Booking Hours | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
Watkinsville and Bishop are the main communities in Oconee County. The Watkinsville Police Department makes arrests within city limits. But all bookings go through the county jail. One call to the sheriff's office covers all recent intakes in Oconee County.
How 24 Hour Booking Works in Oconee County
When someone is arrested in Oconee County, the officer brings them to the jail in Watkinsville. Staff at the jail handle intake. They record the person's name, date of birth, address, and physical description. Charges are entered. Fingerprints and a photo are taken. A booking number gets assigned. This creates the official 24 hour booking record in the Oconee County system.
A magistrate judge sets bond. Minor offenses may have a preset amount. More serious charges need a hearing. In Oconee County, bond hearings usually happen within 48 hours of the arrest. If bond is not posted, the person stays at the jail. Whether they bond out or not, the booking record remains on file permanently.
Oconee County is part of the Western Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Clarke County. Superior Court handles felonies. State Court and Magistrate Court deal with misdemeanors and preliminary hearings. The booking record is the first document in any case that enters the Oconee County court system.
Oconee County 24 Hour Booking Open Records
Booking records from Oconee County are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Anyone can request them. No reason is needed. Call the sheriff's office, visit in person, or send a written request. The response deadline is three business days per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.
The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, Oconee County charges based on the lowest paid employee's hourly rate. Copies cost about $0.10 per page. Single booking record requests are usually inexpensive. Prepayment may be required if the total goes past $500.
Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, social security numbers, bank details, and personal phone numbers are redacted before release. Arrest information stays visible. Names, charges, dates, and bond amounts are all public. Initial arrest reports from Oconee County remain open during active investigations.
Georgia Resources for Oconee County 24 Hour Booking
The GDC Find Offender tool covers people in state prisons. It does not include the Oconee County jail. For local inmates, call the sheriff's office. The Georgia Department of Corrections manages all state prison facilities.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps criminal history records statewide. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, felony convictions are public without consent. Other records require signed permission. The Georgia Applicant Processing Service handles fingerprint-based checks with results in 24 to 48 hours. The GBI FAQ page has detailed instructions.
The GDC website provides access to the state offender database for people who left county jails like Oconee County for state prison.
Oconee County Booking Photos and Record Restriction
O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 prevents the Oconee County Sheriff's Office from posting booking photos on a website. To get a copy, submit a written request with a statement about your intended use. False statements carry penalties. O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 protects people whose photos appear on pay-for-removal sites. You can demand free takedown within 30 days.
Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows sealing of Oconee County arrest records where charges were dismissed or not prosecuted. The district attorney must approve. Once sealed, the record is only visible to courts and criminal justice agencies. O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 allows sealing under the First Offender Act for people who complete first offender sentences. Guilty verdicts from Oconee County cases cannot be sealed.
Cities in Oconee County
Watkinsville is the county seat of Oconee County. Bishop and Bogart are smaller communities. All arrests go through the county jail in Watkinsville. Nearby Athens, in Clarke County, handles its own bookings separately.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Oconee County in northeast Georgia. Each has its own jail and keeps separate booking records.