>Upson County Arrest Records Online

Upson County, Georgia Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Upson County, Georgia?

Arrest records are public in Upson 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 Act serves to promote transparency in governmental operations and accountability within the criminal justice system throughout Upson County and the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Open Records Act specifically designates arrest records as public documents, with certain limited exceptions for ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and records containing sensitive personal information. Members of the public seeking access to these records are not required to provide identification or state a purpose for their request, though agencies may implement reasonable procedures to protect records from theft, alteration, or destruction.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Upson County?

Arrest records can be accessed online in Upson County through various digital platforms. The Upson County Sheriff's Office maintains an electronic database of arrest records that is accessible to the public via their official website. This digital accessibility is in accordance with Georgia's commitment to public information transparency as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, which encourages government agencies to provide electronic access to public records when feasible.

The online availability of these records enables citizens, legal professionals, and other interested parties to conduct searches without physically visiting county offices. The electronic system typically allows searches by name, date of arrest, or case number. However, certain information may be redacted in accordance with privacy laws and statutory exemptions under Georgia law.

How to Look Up Upson County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple methods exist for obtaining arrest records in Upson County. Individuals seeking these records may utilize the following procedures:

Submit a formal request in person at the Upson County Sheriff's Office located at 305 S. Hightower Street, Thomaston, GA 30286. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Telephone: (706) 647-7411.
Access the Upson County Sheriff's Office Records Division online portal, where digital records are maintained in a searchable database. Users must create an account and may be subject to nominal fees for certain record retrievals.
Visit the Upson County Clerk of Superior Court at 111 E. Lee Street, Thomaston, GA 30286. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Telephone: (706) 647-8931.
Utilize the Georgia Courts E-Access portal for statewide court records, which includes Upson County arrest information that has proceeded to court action.
Submit a written request via mail to the Records Custodian at the Upson County Sheriff's Office, including the full name of the individual, date of birth if known, and approximate date of arrest.
Employ third-party commercial record search services that aggregate public records from multiple jurisdictions, though these services may charge fees and cannot guarantee complete accuracy.

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c)(1), agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and copying of records. The current fee structure includes $0.10 per page for standard document copies and administrative charges for searches requiring more than 15 minutes of staff time, calculated at the lowest hourly rate of the person performing the search.

Contents of a Upson County Arrest Record

Upson County arrest records contain comprehensive information regarding the detention of individuals by law enforcement authorities. Standard arrest records include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases or known pseudonyms
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Residential address at time of arrest (may be partially redacted in public versions)
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest
Detailed description of the alleged criminal offense(s)
Georgia Criminal Code citation for each charge
Booking information including processing date and facility
Assigned case or docket number for court proceedings
Bail or bond amount established, if applicable
Custody status (released, detained, transferred)
Booking photograph (commonly referred to as a "mugshot")
Fingerprint classification data
Court appearance dates and preliminary hearing information

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information, and medical information. Additionally, records pertaining to victims of certain offenses receive special protection under Georgia law.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Upson County

The process of expungement, legally referred to as record restriction in Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, provides a mechanism for limiting public access to certain arrest records in Upson County. Record restriction may be available under the following circumstances:

Arrests that did not result in a formal charge or indictment
Cases where charges were dismissed or nolle prossed
Instances where the individual was acquitted of all charges by a judge or jury
First-offender dispositions after successful completion of sentence requirements
Certain misdemeanor convictions for youthful offenders (under 21 at time of arrest)
Cases resolved through pretrial diversion or conditional discharge programs

To initiate the expungement process, eligible individuals must:

Obtain and complete the "Request for Restriction of Criminal History Record Information" form from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or the Upson County Sheriff's Office
Submit the completed application to the arresting agency (typically the Upson County Sheriff's Office)
Pay the required processing fee of $25 (fee waivers available for indigent applicants)
Provide supporting documentation demonstrating eligibility for record restriction

The arresting agency will review the application and forward approved requests to the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) for processing. If approved, the record will be restricted from public disclosure, though it will remain accessible to law enforcement agencies and certain employers as specified in Georgia law.

Individuals seeking expungement may obtain legal assistance through the Georgia Legal Aid (404-524-5811) or private legal counsel specializing in record restriction matters.