> >Athens Arrest Records

Athens Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Athens, Georgia?

Arrest records are public documents in Athens, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This state legislation establishes that official government records, including those pertaining to arrests made by law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to members of the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department maintains these records in accordance with state law and departmental policies regarding public records inspection.

Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and civic purposes:

Promotes transparency in law enforcement operations
Enables citizens to monitor the activities of government agencies
Facilitates public awareness of criminal activity within the community
Supports journalistic reporting on matters of public safety
Provides necessary information for background checks and employment screening

Certain portions of arrest records may be redacted or restricted from public disclosure under specific exemptions outlined in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, including but not limited to information that would compromise ongoing investigations or reveal the identity of confidential informants.

How to Look Up Athens Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Athens-Clarke County have multiple avenues through which to obtain this information. The following methods are available for accessing arrest record information:

In-Person Requests

Individuals may submit requests in person at the following locations:

Athens-Clarke County Police Department
3035 Lexington Road
Athens, GA 30605
Phone: (706) 613-3330
Athens-Clarke County Police Department
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Clarke County Sheriff's Office
325 E. Washington Street
Athens, GA 30601
Phone: (706) 613-3250
Clarke County Sheriff's Office
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Athens-Clarke County Clerk of Superior Court
Athens-Clarke County Courthouse
325 E. Washington Street, Room 450
Athens, GA 30601
Phone: (706) 613-3190
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Written Requests

Written requests for arrest records may be submitted via postal mail to the aforementioned agencies. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A), written requests must include:

The requester's name and contact information
A description of the records being requested with sufficient particularity
Whether the request is for inspection or copying of records

Electronic Access

The Athens-Clarke County government provides limited online access to arrest information through its official website. Recent arrest data is updated regularly and can be accessed without submitting a formal request. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department maintains a database of recent arrests that is accessible to the public.

Fees for Records

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c), agencies may impose reasonable charges for the search, retrieval, and copying of records:

Standard copying fees: $0.10 per page
Administrative search and retrieval fees: $15.00 per hour (first quarter hour free)
Additional fees may apply for certified copies or specialized formats

Contents of an Athens Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Athens-Clarke County law enforcement agencies typically contain the following categories of information:

Demographic Information

Full legal name of the arrested individual
Known aliases or alternative names
Date of birth
Gender
Race/ethnicity
Physical descriptors (height, weight, identifying marks)
Residential address at time of arrest

Arrest Details

Date and time of arrest
Location where the arrest occurred
Name and badge number of arresting officer(s)
Agency responsible for the arrest
Statutory authority under which the arrest was made
Whether force was used during the arrest

Criminal Charges

Specific charges filed against the individual
Georgia Code sections allegedly violated
Classification of offenses (felony, misdemeanor)
Case numbers assigned by the court
Disposition of charges if available

Processing Information

Booking number and date
Fingerprint identification data
Photographic identification (mugshot)
Property inventory taken at booking
Bond or bail information
Detention facility information

Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records in accordance with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department's public records policy, including social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Athens

The State of Georgia provides a mechanism for the restriction and sealing of certain arrest records through a process formerly known as expungement, now officially termed "record restriction" under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. The Athens-Clarke County criminal justice system processes requests for record restriction in accordance with this statute.

Eligibility Criteria

Individuals may qualify for record restriction under the following circumstances:

Arrests that did not result in formal charges
Cases where charges were dismissed or nolle prossed
Cases resulting in acquittal (not guilty verdicts)
First offender or conditional discharge dispositions after successful completion
Certain misdemeanor convictions for youthful offenders
Pardoned offenses (except serious violent felonies)

The Athens-Clarke County Pre-Arrest Diversion Program provides an additional pathway for eligible individuals to avoid having an arrest record created in the first place for certain minor offenses.

Application Process

The record restriction process typically involves the following steps:

Submission of an application to the arresting agency (Athens-Clarke County Police Department or Clarke County Sheriff's Office)
Payment of applicable processing fees
Review by the prosecuting attorney's office
Determination by the Georgia Crime Information Center
Court approval for certain types of restrictions

Successful record restriction prevents the dissemination of arrest information to private individuals and entities, though the information remains available to law enforcement agencies for criminal justice purposes.

Legal Assistance

Due to the complexity of the record restriction process, applicants may benefit from legal assistance. The Athens-Clarke County Public Defender's Office or local legal aid organizations may provide guidance to eligible individuals seeking record restriction.