Watkinsville Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Watkinsville, Georgia?
Arrest records are public documents in Watkinsville, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This comprehensive legislation establishes that all public records, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be available for inspection by any member of the public. The statute specifically designates law enforcement records, including arrest reports, incident reports, and booking photographs, as public records subject to disclosure.
The Georgia Open Records Act serves multiple public interests, including:
- Promoting transparency in governmental operations
- Ensuring accountability of law enforcement agencies
- Providing citizens with access to information about criminal activity in their communities
- Supporting the public's right to information about individuals who have been arrested
Exceptions to public disclosure may apply in certain circumstances, such as ongoing investigations or cases involving juveniles. Additionally, certain identifying information, such as Social Security numbers or medical information, may be redacted prior to release in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
How to Look Up Watkinsville Arrest Records in 2025
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Watkinsville have several official channels through which they may obtain this information. The following methods are available for accessing arrest records in compliance with Georgia state law:
Oconee County Sheriff's Office
1140 Experiment Station Road
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Phone: (706) 769-5665
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Individuals may request arrest records in person by completing a records request form. The Sheriff's Office maintains records of all arrests within Oconee County, including those occurring within Watkinsville city limits. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, a reasonable fee may be charged for search, retrieval, and copying of records.
Watkinsville Police Department
191 VFW Drive
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Phone: (706) 769-5665
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
For arrests made by the Watkinsville Police Department, individuals may submit a written request directly to the department. Requests must include the name of the arrested individual and, if available, the approximate date of arrest.
Oconee County Clerk of Superior Court
Oconee County Courthouse
23 North Main Street
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Phone: (706) 769-3940
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Clerk's Office maintains court records related to arrests that have proceeded to prosecution. These records may be accessed through public terminals located in the courthouse during regular business hours.
Written Requests
Written requests for arrest records may be submitted to the appropriate agency by mail. Requests must include:
- Full name of the arrested individual
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of arrest (if known)
- Contact information for the requestor
- Payment of applicable fees as prescribed by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c)
Agencies are required to respond to records requests within three business days, as mandated by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A).
Contents of a Watkinsville Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Watkinsville typically contain standardized information as required by Georgia law and departmental policies. Standard arrest records include the following components:
- Full legal name of the arrested individual
- Any known aliases or alternative names
- Date and precise time of the arrest
- Location where the arrest occurred
- Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest, including Georgia Code references
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
- Agency responsible for the arrest (Watkinsville Police Department or Oconee County Sheriff's Office)
- Unique booking identification number
- Booking photograph (commonly referred to as a "mugshot")
- Fingerprint impressions collected during booking
- Physical description including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Residential address of the arrested individual
- Preliminary court appearance information
- Bail or bond amount, if applicable
- Detention status (released or in custody)
In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, certain sensitive information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information. Additionally, if the arrest involved a juvenile, different rules regarding confidentiality may apply pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 15-11-700.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Watkinsville
The State of Georgia utilizes the term "record restriction" rather than expungement, as codified in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Record restriction in Watkinsville follows state guidelines and procedures, allowing for the sealing of arrest records under specific circumstances.
Eligibility criteria for record restriction in Watkinsville include:
- 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 dispositions after successful completion of probation
- Certain misdemeanor convictions for offenders who were under 21 years of age at the time of the offense
The record restriction process requires the following steps:
- Submission of a Record Restriction Application to the arresting agency (Watkinsville Police Department or Oconee County Sheriff's Office)
- Payment of applicable processing fees
- Review by the prosecuting attorney's office
- Approval or denial determination
- If approved, forwarding of the restriction request to the Georgia Crime Information Center
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(j)(1), once a record is restricted, the arrest information is sealed from public view but remains accessible to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and certain employers as specified by law. The restricted record will not appear in standard background checks conducted by the general public or most employers.
Individuals seeking record restriction may obtain assistance through:
Oconee County Probation Office
Oconee County Courthouse
23 North Main Street, Room 205
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Phone: (706) 769-3940
Georgia Justice Project
438 Edgewood Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: (404) 827-0027
It should be noted that certain serious offenses, including violent felonies and sexual offenses, are generally ineligible for record restriction under Georgia law.
Search Arrest Records in Watkinsville
