Arrest records in Jonesboro, Georgia are public documents pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes that official records maintained by government agencies, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be accessible to members of the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Georgia Open Records Act promotes transparency within the criminal justice system and enables citizens to obtain information about arrests made within Jonesboro and Clayton County jurisdictions.
Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental purposes, including:
Certain arrest records may be subject to redaction or restriction if they contain information protected by privacy laws, involve ongoing investigations, or pertain to juvenile offenders as specified under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-700.
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Jonesboro have multiple official channels through which such information may be obtained. The following governmental agencies maintain and provide access to arrest records:
Jonesboro Police Department
170 S Main Street
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (770) 478-7407
Jonesboro Police Department website
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Clayton County Sheriff's Office
9157 Tara Boulevard
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (770) 477-4479
Inmate Search Portal
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court
Harold R. Banke Justice Center
9151 Tara Boulevard
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (770) 477-3432
Court Records Search
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Requestors may utilize the following methods to obtain arrest records:
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies may assess reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and copying of records. Current fee schedules are posted at each agency's public counter.
Standard arrest records maintained by Jonesboro law enforcement agencies contain specific categories of information as mandated by Georgia Bureau of Investigation reporting requirements. A comprehensive arrest record typically includes:
Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, including:
The Clayton County Police Department maintains arrest records at:
Clayton County Police Department
1669 Flicker Road
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Phone: (770) 477-3747
Clayton County Police Department website
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Under Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, eligible individuals may petition for restriction and sealing of arrest records, a process formerly known as expungement. The Georgia Justice Reform Act of 2018 expanded eligibility criteria for record restriction. Individuals may qualify for expungement of Jonesboro arrest records under the following circumstances:
The record restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, which then forwards eligible requests to the Georgia Crime Information Center. For court-ordered restrictions, petitioners must file with:
Clayton County Superior Court
Harold R. Banke Justice Center
9151 Tara Boulevard
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (770) 477-3405
Clayton County Courts website
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Applicants should be aware that certain records remain ineligible for restriction, including:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation assesses a processing fee of $25 per request, though fee waivers may be available for indigent applicants upon submission of an affidavit of indigence.
Arrest records in Jonesboro carry significant legal implications for affected individuals. The presence of an arrest record, even without conviction, may impact:
Under Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34.1, employers are prohibited from using first-offender records or restricted records as the sole basis for employment decisions. However, certain industries maintain statutory exemptions from this prohibition, including:
The Jonesboro Municipal Court handles cases involving city ordinance violations and certain misdemeanors:
Jonesboro Municipal Court
170 South Main Street
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (678) 359-2783
Jonesboro Municipal Court website
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Employers, landlords, and other authorized entities conducting background checks in Jonesboro may access arrest records through official channels. The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) serves as the central repository for criminal history information statewide. Authorized users may submit requests for criminal history records through:
Clayton County Magistrate Court
Harold R. Banke Justice Center
9151 Tara Boulevard
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (770) 477-3443
Clayton County Magistrate Court website
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the following entities may obtain criminal history records:
Non-criminal justice agencies and private employers must obtain signed consent from the subject of the inquiry and submit fingerprints for positive identification. The GCIC assesses a fee of $20.00 per name-based search and $30.00 per fingerprint-based search.
For court records related to arrests that have proceeded to prosecution:
Clerk of State Court of Clayton County
Harold R. Banke Justice Center
9151 Tara Boulevard, Room 1CL181
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (678) 479-5521
Clerk of State Court website
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM