Telfair County 24 Hour Booking Records

Telfair County 24 hour booking records are maintained at the Sheriff's Office in McRae-Helena, Georgia. The county jail logs every arrest that occurs within the jurisdiction. Each booking entry shows the person's name, charges, and when the arrest happened. Georgia law makes these records public, so anyone can request them. Telfair County sits in south-central Georgia and covers a mostly rural area. McRae-Helena, formed by the merger of McRae and Helena, is the county seat and the location for all jail bookings in Telfair County.

Telfair County Sheriff 24 Hour Booking Office

The Telfair County Sheriff's Office operates from 8 E. Oak Street in McRae-Helena. All booking records for the county are stored here. When someone is arrested in Telfair County, the jail staff process the intake. They log the person's name, date of birth, charges, and bond amount. Fingerprints and a booking photo are also taken. A unique booking number gets assigned to each arrest.

Call (229) 868-6611 to ask about recent bookings. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and share the charges they face. For a written copy of a booking record, visit the office during regular hours or send a letter. Telfair County is a smaller jurisdiction, but every arrest goes through the same formal process. The jail operates all day and night.

How 24 Hour Booking Works in Telfair County

Booking in Telfair County follows the same steps used across Georgia. After an arrest, the person goes to the county jail in McRae-Helena. Intake staff collect personal details and enter every charge into the system. The arresting officer's name and agency get recorded too. A booking number is created for that arrest.

A magistrate judge sets bond. In Telfair County, this typically happens within 48 hours. Some charges have standard bond amounts. Others need a court hearing first. The booking record remains on file whether the person bonds out or stays in jail. These entries form the 24 hour booking log that shows all recent arrest activity in Telfair County.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18, booking photos from Telfair County cannot be posted on public websites. If you need a mugshot, you have to request it in writing from the sheriff's office and state your intended use.

Note: Juvenile arrests are handled separately and do not appear on the public booking log in Telfair County.

Telfair County Open Records Requests

Georgia's Open Records Act gives everyone access to booking records from Telfair County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, jail logs and initial arrest reports count as public records. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 requires a response within three business days. You can file your request by phone, in writing, or in person at the sheriff's office in McRae-Helena.

Costs are usually small. The first 15 minutes of search time is free under state law. Paper copies cost about $0.10 per page. If your request goes over $500, the office can ask for prepayment. For most Telfair County booking record requests, the cost is minimal or nothing at all. The Georgia Governor's Office has details on how open records fees work statewide.

Georgia Resources for Telfair County Bookings

Telfair County is also home to state correctional facilities, so it helps to know which system handles what. Local arrests go through the Telfair County jail. People sentenced to state prison get tracked by the Georgia Department of Corrections. The GDC offender search covers state inmates only. It does not include people in county jails.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation manages the statewide criminal history database. A booking record from Telfair County shows one arrest. A criminal history check shows the full picture. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, private persons can access someone's criminal history with written consent. Felony convictions are public without consent.

Restricting Telfair County 24 Hour Booking Records

Some booking records from Telfair County can be sealed. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, arrest records may be restricted when charges end in a dismissal, are not presented to a grand jury, or get nol-prossed. The local prosecutor must approve it. Once restricted, only courts and law enforcement agencies can view the record.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 also applies. If you were sentenced as a first offender in Telfair County and finished all terms, the record gets sealed. You are exonerated of guilt. Mail restriction applications to the Georgia Crime Information Center at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. The GBI FAQ page covers both types of restriction.

Cities in Telfair County

McRae-Helena is the county seat and the main population center. Lumber City and Scotland are smaller communities in Telfair County. No cities here have a separate booking page. All arrests get processed at the county jail in McRae-Helena.

Nearby Counties

Telfair County is in south-central Georgia. Check these neighboring counties for booking records from nearby jurisdictions.