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Jonesboro Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Jonesboro, Georgia?

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:

Ensuring accountability of law enforcement agencies
Providing transparency in the criminal justice process
Enabling background verification for employment and housing
Supporting public safety through informed community awareness

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.

How to Look Up Jonesboro Arrest Records in 2025

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:

Submit an in-person request at the records division of the appropriate agency
Complete and submit the standardized Open Records Request form
Access online inmate search portals for current detention information
Request certified copies of court records for cases that have been filed with the courts

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.

Contents of a Jonesboro Arrest Record

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:

Full legal name and known aliases of the arrested individual
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest with corresponding Georgia code sections
Booking photographs (mugshots) taken during processing
Biometric data including fingerprints and, when applicable, DNA samples
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, and identifying marks
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Agency case number and booking reference numbers
Custody status and bail information
Prior arrest history within the jurisdiction

Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, including:

Social Security numbers
Driver's license numbers
Medical information protected under HIPAA
Information pertaining to confidential informants
Details that might compromise ongoing investigations

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

Expungement of Arrest Records in Jonesboro

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:

Arrests that did not result in formal charges
Cases where charges were dismissed or nolle prossed
Cases resulting in acquittal or not guilty verdicts
First-offender dispositions after successful completion of probation
Certain misdemeanor convictions for offenses committed before the age of 21
Pardoned offenses (excluding serious violent felonies)

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:

Serious violent felonies as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1
Sexual offenses against minors
Family violence battery convictions
DUI convictions
Child molestation and related offenses

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.

Legal Implications of Arrest Records in Jonesboro

Arrest records in Jonesboro carry significant legal implications for affected individuals. The presence of an arrest record, even without conviction, may impact:

Employment opportunities, particularly in positions requiring background checks
Housing applications and rental agreements
Professional licensing and certification
Educational enrollment and financial aid eligibility
Firearm purchase and possession rights
Immigration status and naturalization proceedings

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:

Criminal justice agencies
Educational institutions
Facilities providing care to children, the elderly, or vulnerable populations
Financial institutions and entities requiring security clearances

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

Accessing Arrest Records for Background Checks

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:

Criminal justice agencies for administration of criminal justice
Public agencies for employment or licensing purposes
Private employers for security-sensitive positions
Attorneys representing clients in criminal proceedings
Individuals requesting their own criminal history

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