>Towns County Arrest Records Online

Towns County, Georgia Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Towns County, Georgia?

Arrest records in Towns County, Georgia are public documents accessible to all citizens pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes that official records maintained by public agencies, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be available for inspection by any member of the public. The Georgia Open Records Act operates under the principle of government transparency, allowing individuals to request and obtain these records without being required to state a purpose or justify their interest in the information. Public access to arrest records serves the dual purpose of maintaining governmental accountability and enabling citizens to remain informed about law enforcement activities within Towns County.

The Towns County Sheriff's Office maintains these records as the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Records are preserved in accordance with state retention schedules as established by the Georgia Secretary of State's Office under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-99, which mandates the preservation of law enforcement records for specified periods depending on the nature of the case and its disposition.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Towns County?

Towns County arrest records are available through various online platforms in accordance with Georgia's commitment to digital government services. The Georgia Courts portal provides electronic access to certain judicial records, including those related to arrests and subsequent court proceedings. This digital availability is authorized under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-61, which permits the electronic storage and retrieval of court records.

The Towns County Sheriff's Office maintains a digital database of arrest information that may be accessed through their official website or through terminals located at their headquarters. Additionally, the E-Access to Court Records system offers a centralized platform for searching judicial records related to arrests and subsequent proceedings throughout Georgia jurisdictions, including Towns County.

Users should be advised that while basic arrest information is typically available online, certain records may require in-person requests due to statutory restrictions on the electronic dissemination of sensitive information as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, which delineates specific categories of protected information.

How to Look Up Towns County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Towns County arrest records may utilize several authorized methods to obtain this information. The following procedures have been established pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, which governs the process for requesting public records:

Submit a formal records request to the Towns County Sheriff's Office located at 4070 State Highway 339, Young Harris, GA 30582. Requests may be submitted during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Access the public terminals available at the Towns County Courthouse located at 48 River Street, Hiawassee, GA 30546. These terminals are available during regular court hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Utilize the Georgia Courts electronic records system to search for arrest-related court proceedings. This system operates pursuant to the Judicial Council of Georgia's standards for electronic court records.
Contact the Hiawassee Police Department at 50 River Street, Hiawassee, GA 30546 for arrests occurring within city limits. The department maintains records of municipal arrests and can be reached at (706) 896-2888.

Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information such as the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and date of birth if available. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c)(1), agencies may assess reasonable charges for search, retrieval, and copying of records, not to exceed $0.10 per page for letter or legal-sized documents.

Contents of a Towns County Arrest Record

Towns County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, which establishes uniform reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies throughout the state. A typical arrest record includes:

Biographical information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors such as height, weight, and identifying marks or tattoos.
Temporal and geographical data pertaining to the arrest, including the precise date, time, and location where the apprehension occurred.
Comprehensive enumeration of all charges filed against the individual, including the specific Georgia Code sections alleged to have been violated and the classification of each offense as either a felony or misdemeanor.
Identification of the arresting agency and officer, including badge or identification numbers as applicable.
Booking information, including the assigned identification number, fingerprint classification, and processing details.
Photographic documentation of the arrested individual, commonly referred to as a "mugshot," taken during the booking process in accordance with standard law enforcement protocols.
Disposition information indicating the current status of the case, including whether the individual was released on bond, the bond amount, and court appearance dates if applicable.

These records are maintained in accordance with the Georgia Criminal Justice Information System regulations as codified in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-30 et seq., which establishes standards for the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal justice information.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Towns County

Under Georgia law, certain arrest records in Towns County may be eligible for restriction and sealing, a process formerly known as expungement. This procedure is governed by O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, which provides specific criteria for the restriction of criminal history records. Individuals may petition for record restriction under the following circumstances:

Arrests that did not result in a formal charge or indictment.
Cases that were dismissed or nolle prossed by the prosecuting attorney.
Matters where the grand jury returned two no bills.
Situations where the individual successfully completed a pretrial diversion program, resulting in dismissal of charges.
Certain misdemeanor convictions for individuals who were under 21 years of age at the time of the offense, provided they have no other criminal convictions in the subsequent five years.
First offender probation cases successfully completed under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, resulting in discharge without adjudication of guilt.

The restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, followed by review by the prosecuting attorney's office. If approved, the Georgia Crime Information Center will restrict public access to the record, though it remains available to law enforcement agencies and certain employers as specified in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(j).

Individuals seeking record restriction may obtain the necessary forms from the Towns County Clerk of Superior Court, located at 48 River Street, Hiawassee, GA 30546. The clerk's office operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at (706) 896-2202.