Arrest records are public in Tyrone, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes the public's right to access government records, including those pertaining to arrests, unless specifically exempted by statute. The Georgia Open Records Act operates under the principle that government transparency is essential for public oversight and accountability.
The Town of Tyrone adheres to state regulations regarding the disclosure of arrest information. Under Georgia law, records of arrests, including booking photographs, names of individuals arrested, and charges filed, are considered public information. These records remain accessible to any member of the public who submits a proper request through designated channels.
It should be noted that certain information within arrest records may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections established by state law. Such protected information typically includes Social Security numbers, medical information, and other personally identifiable data as specified in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Tyrone have several official methods available to them. The Town of Tyrone maintains systems for public access to these records in compliance with state transparency requirements. The following procedures are established for obtaining arrest record information:
In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the Tyrone Police Department to submit an open records request for arrest information. The department is located at 950 Senoia Road, Tyrone, GA 30290. Office hours for public record requests are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Open Records Request Form: The Town of Tyrone's official website provides an Open Records Request form that may be completed and submitted electronically or in person. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the town must respond to requests within three business days.
Fayette County Sheriff's Office: For arrests made by county authorities within Tyrone town limits, records may be requested through the Fayette County Sheriff's Office located at 155 Johnson Avenue, Fayetteville, GA 30214. The Sheriff's Office maintains a dedicated open records request system for incident reports and arrest records.
Online Court Records: The Tyrone Municipal Court provides limited access to case information through their online portal. This resource may be used to verify court appearances and case dispositions related to arrests within the jurisdiction.
Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC): For comprehensive criminal history information, the GCIC maintains official state records. Requests must be submitted through authorized agencies with proper identification and payment of applicable fees as established by state law.
Arrest records maintained by the Tyrone Police Department and accessible through public records requests typically contain the following information as prescribed by Georgia law:
The Tyrone Police Department maintains these records in accordance with Georgia Records Retention Schedules as established by the Georgia Archives and Records Management Division.
The management and accessibility of arrest records in Tyrone operate within a structured legal framework established by state and local regulations. This framework ensures both public access and appropriate protections.
The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-77) serves as the primary legal authority governing public access to arrest records. Under this statute, government agencies, including the Tyrone Police Department, must make non-exempt records available for inspection and copying upon request.
The Town of Tyrone Municipal Code Chapter 38 further codifies local procedures for records management and public access. These local regulations operate in conjunction with state law to establish specific protocols for requesting and receiving arrest information.
Fees for obtaining copies of arrest records are regulated by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c), which permits agencies to charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and copying of records. The Tyrone Police Department assesses fees in accordance with this statute, currently set at:
Requests that exceed $25.00 in estimated costs require advance notification to the requestor before processing begins.
Under Georgia law, certain arrest records may be eligible for restriction and sealing through a process formerly known as expungement. The Georgia Record Restriction law (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37) establishes the criteria and procedures for limiting public access to arrest records under specific circumstances.
Individuals may qualify for record restriction in Tyrone if their arrest resulted in:
The record restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, which in Tyrone would be the Tyrone Police Department. Applications must include:
Upon approval, the Tyrone Police Department coordinates with the Georgia Crime Information Center to restrict access to the arrest record in state databases. However, it should be noted that record restriction does not remove information from private databases or previously published sources.
For arrests related to serious violent felonies, sexual offenses, or crimes against minors, restrictions are generally not available regardless of case outcome, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(j)(4).
The Tyrone Municipal Court processes cases resulting from arrests within town limits for violations of municipal ordinances and certain state laws. Court procedures directly impact the status and accessibility of arrest records.
The Municipal Court is located at 950 Senoia Road, Tyrone, GA 30290, and holds regular sessions on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 PM. Individuals with pending cases resulting from arrests may appear before the court to address charges according to the scheduled court date provided during the arrest process.
For minor offenses, the court offers a schedule of standard fines and fees that may be paid without a court appearance, effectively resolving the case. Payment of these predetermined amounts constitutes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, which becomes part of the arrest record.
Defendants seeking to contest charges or request alternative sentencing must appear in person at the scheduled court date. The court may impose various sentences that affect the final disposition recorded in the arrest record, including:
The Municipal Court Clerk maintains records of all case dispositions, which become part of the official arrest record. These dispositions are transmitted to the Georgia Crime Information Center for inclusion in the state's criminal history database pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33.