Polk County, Georgia Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Polk County, Georgia?
Arrest records are public in Polk County, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes that all public records, including arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies, shall be available for inspection by any member of the public. The Georgia Open Records Act serves to promote transparency in government operations and accountability within the criminal justice system.
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Polk County may submit requests to the appropriate custodian of records. The custodian must respond to such requests within three business days, as mandated by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A). If records cannot be produced within this timeframe, the custodian must provide a written description of the records and a timeline for their production.
Law enforcement agencies in Polk County maintain these records as part of their official duties. The Polk County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary repository for arrest records within the county jurisdiction, while municipal police departments maintain records for arrests within their respective city limits.
Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Polk County?
Polk County arrest records are accessible through various online platforms maintained by government agencies and authorized third-party providers. The Polk County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search function through which members of the public may access current inmate information and recent arrest data. This service is provided in accordance with Georgia's commitment to public information accessibility as codified in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70.
The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), operated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, maintains a centralized database of criminal history information that includes arrest records from Polk County. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, certain criminal history record information is available to the public upon submission of proper identification and payment of required fees.
Online access to these records is subject to specific limitations established by state law. Information related to ongoing investigations, juvenile records (except as provided in O.C.G.A. § 15-11-702), and certain personal identifying information may be redacted from publicly available records in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
How to Look Up Polk County Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may obtain arrest records in Polk County. Each method requires compliance with established procedures and may involve associated fees as authorized by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c).
The Polk County Sheriff's Office provides direct access to arrest records through their Records Division:
Polk County Sheriff's Office
1676 Rockmart Highway
Cedartown, GA 30125
Phone: (770) 748-7131
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Official Website
Requestors may submit applications in person, by mail, or through the online portal for Polk County arrest records. Proper identification is required for all requests, and fees are assessed according to the following schedule:
- Paper copies: $0.10 per page
- Electronic records: Actual cost of production
- Certified copies: Additional $2.00 per document
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides statewide criminal history information that includes Polk County arrests:
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
Phone: (404) 244-2600
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Official Website
For court-related arrest records, the Polk County Clerk of Superior Court maintains documentation for cases that have proceeded to court:
Polk County Clerk of Superior Court
100 Prior Street
Cedartown, GA 30125
Phone: (770) 749-2114
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Official Website
Contents of a Polk County Arrest Record
Polk County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by Georgia law and administrative regulations. These records serve as official documentation of an individual's interaction with law enforcement and typically include the following elements:
Subject identification information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Gender, race, and ethnicity
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
- Residential address at time of arrest
- Georgia driver's license number (if applicable)
Arrest information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed (including Georgia Code citations)
- Arrest circumstances and probable cause statement
- Weapon information (if applicable)
Case processing information:
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Fingerprint classification
- Bond/bail amount and status
- Court assignment and case number
- Scheduled court appearances
- Disposition of charges
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34(a)(1), certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including Social Security numbers, financial account information, and medical information protected under federal law.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Polk County
Under Georgia law, individuals may petition for restriction and sealing of arrest records 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 this process in Polk County and throughout the state.
Record restriction may be available in the following circumstances:
- Arrests that did not result in a formal charge or indictment
- Cases resulting in dismissal of all charges
- Cases resulting in acquittal of all charges
- First offender dispositions after successful completion of sentence (pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60)
- Conditional discharge dispositions after successful completion of probation (pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-13-2)
- Certain misdemeanor convictions for youthful offenders (under age 21 at time of conviction)
The restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, which then forwards the request to the Georgia Crime Information Center for processing. For cases involving court proceedings, a petition must be filed with the Polk County Superior Court:
Polk County Superior Court
100 Prior Street
Cedartown, GA 30125
Phone: (770) 749-2114
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Official Website
Applicants should note that certain offenses are ineligible for record restriction, including serious violent felonies as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 and sexual offenses as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.2. Additionally, records restricted under this process remain available to criminal justice agencies and for certain employment purposes as specified in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(i)(2).
Search Arrest Records in Polk County
