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Walthourville Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Walthourville, Georgia?

Arrest records in Walthourville, Georgia are classified as public documents pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes the public's legal right to access government records, including those pertaining to arrests made within municipal jurisdictions. The statute mandates that law enforcement agencies maintain transparency by making these records accessible to citizens, journalists, researchers, and other interested parties.

The public nature of arrest records serves multiple civic functions:

Promotes governmental accountability in law enforcement operations
Enables community awareness of public safety matters
Facilitates background verification processes for employment and housing
Supports journalistic reporting on criminal justice activities
Provides statistical data for policy analysis and development

Exceptions to public disclosure may apply in certain circumstances as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, such as ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or cases where disclosure would compromise personal privacy beyond the public interest served.

How to Look Up Walthourville Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Walthourville have multiple official channels through which to obtain this information. The following governmental entities maintain and provide access to arrest documentation:

Walthourville Police Department
4930 W Oglethorpe Highway
Walthourville, GA 31333
Phone: (912) 368-6177
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Liberty County Sheriff's Office
201 S Main Street
Hinesville, GA 31313
Phone: (912) 876-2131
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Liberty County Departments

Liberty County Clerk of Courts
201 S Main Street, Suite 1200
Hinesville, GA 31313
Phone: (912) 876-3625
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Liberty County Clerk of Courts

Requestors may utilize the following methods to access arrest records:

In-person requests at the above locations with proper identification
Written requests submitted via postal mail with required processing fees
Electronic requests through designated governmental portals where available
Telephone inquiries for preliminary information, though documentation typically requires formal request

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and copying of records. Current fee schedules are posted at each agency location and on their respective websites.

Contents of a Walthourville Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by Walthourville law enforcement agencies contain comprehensive documentation of the arrest event and the individual's processing through initial stages of the criminal justice system. These records typically include the following categories of information as mandated by Georgia Bureau of Investigation reporting requirements:

Subject identification data:
- Full legal name and documented aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Government-issued identification numbers
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, eye/hair color, identifying marks)
- Residential address at time of processing
Arrest circumstance documentation:
- Date, time, and geographic location of apprehension
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Statutory citations for alleged violations
- Incident report reference numbers
- Narrative description of probable cause
Processing information:
- Booking photographs (mugshots) from multiple angles
- Fingerprint impressions and biometric identifiers
- Property inventory documentation
- Medical screening notations
- Detention facility assignment
Case disposition elements:
- Bail or bond determination amounts
- Court appearance scheduling
- Preliminary hearing outcomes
- Detention status indicators

The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) maintains standardized formatting requirements for these records to ensure consistency across jurisdictions and facilitate information sharing between law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records in Georgia

The management and accessibility of arrest records in Walthourville operate within a comprehensive legal framework established by state statutes and judicial precedents. The following legislative provisions govern these records:

Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-77) establishes the fundamental right of public access to governmental records, including those pertaining to arrests. The statute specifies:

Records must be produced within three business days of request when available
Agencies must provide reasonable estimates of time and cost when records cannot be immediately produced
Custodians must cite specific statutory exemptions when denying access
Electronic records must be provided in the format requested when feasible

The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) regulations (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-30 et seq.) establish protocols for:

Standardized collection and maintenance of arrest data
Permissible dissemination of criminal history information
Security requirements for systems containing arrest records
Audit procedures to ensure compliance with privacy protections

Additionally, the First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) and conditional discharge provisions (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-2) create pathways for certain records to be sealed from public view upon successful completion of court-ordered requirements.

Law enforcement agencies in Walthourville must maintain compliance with these statutory frameworks while balancing public transparency with individual privacy considerations.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Walthourville

The State of Georgia provides legal mechanisms for the restriction and sealing of arrest records under specific circumstances through a process formally known as record restriction (commonly referred to as expungement). Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, individuals may petition for the restriction of arrest records in Walthourville when:

The case was dismissed or nolle prossed
No formal charges were filed within the statute of limitations
The individual was acquitted by a judge or jury
The arrest resulted from identity theft or mistaken identity
The case was resolved through certain pretrial diversion programs
The individual successfully completed First Offender Act requirements

The record restriction process requires submission of formal documentation to:

Liberty County Superior Court
201 S Main Street
Hinesville, GA 31313
Phone: (912) 876-3625
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Petitioners must complete the following procedural steps:

Obtain certified disposition documentation from the court of jurisdiction
Submit GBI-approved restriction request forms with required fees
Provide fingerprint verification through authorized channeling agencies
Attend scheduled hearings if contested by the prosecuting authority

Upon approval, restricted records remain accessible to criminal justice agencies for law enforcement purposes but are shielded from public disclosure, including background checks conducted by most employers and housing providers. Exceptions exist for certain sensitive employment positions as enumerated in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(j)(4).

Impact of Arrest Records on Employment in Walthourville

Arrest records maintained by Walthourville law enforcement agencies may significantly impact employment opportunities for affected individuals. Georgia law establishes specific parameters regarding how employers may utilize criminal history information in hiring decisions:

The Fair Business Practices Act (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.14) requires that:

Employers must provide written notice when obtaining criminal history reports
Applicants must receive copies of reports used in adverse employment decisions
Reasonable opportunity must be provided to dispute inaccurate information

While Georgia has not enacted "ban-the-box" legislation at the state level for private employers, public employers in Walthourville and throughout Liberty County are subject to Executive Order 2015-03, which:

Prohibits the use of criminal history questions on initial employment applications
Delays criminal background inquiries until after the initial screening process
Requires individualized assessment of conviction relevance to specific positions

Employers accessing arrest records through the Georgia Crime Information Center must comply with user agreement provisions that mandate:

Secure storage of obtained criminal history information
Restriction of access to authorized personnel with legitimate need
Proper disposal of records when no longer needed for stated purpose
Periodic audits to verify compliance with handling requirements

Individuals with arrest records seeking employment in Walthourville may benefit from understanding these regulatory frameworks and their rights regarding the use of such information in hiring processes.