Chickamauga Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Chickamauga, Georgia?
Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), arrest records are public documents in Chickamauga, Georgia. This legislation ensures transparency in governmental operations by providing citizens with access to public records maintained by state and local agencies. The Georgia Open Records Act establishes that arrest records, booking photographs, and incident reports are generally accessible to any member of the public upon proper request, unless specifically exempted by statute.
Exceptions to public accessibility may include:
- Records pertaining to pending investigations
- Juvenile records (protected under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-700)
- Records sealed by court order
- Records expunged pursuant to Georgia's First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60)
- Records containing sensitive personal information as defined by state law
The Walker County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records for Chickamauga and surrounding areas within the county jurisdiction. These records document the official detention of individuals suspected of criminal activity and serve as an essential component of the criminal justice system's public accountability framework.
How to Look Up Chickamauga Arrest Records in 2025
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Chickamauga have multiple methods available for accessing this information. The Walker County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary custodian of arrest records for Chickamauga and surrounding areas. Requestors may utilize the following procedures to obtain arrest record information:
In-person requests may be submitted at:
Walker County Sheriff's Office
105 South Duke Street
LaFayette, GA 30728
Phone: (706) 638-1909
Walker County Sheriff's Office
Operating hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding county holidays.
For online access, the following resources are available:
- The Walker County Records & Statistics portal provides guidance on obtaining various public records
- The Chickamauga Municipal Court maintains records of arrests within city limits
- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains a statewide database accessible to authorized users
When requesting arrest records, individuals must provide:
- Full name of the subject
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of arrest (if known)
- Case number (if available)
- Government-issued photo identification of the requestor
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 Chickamauga Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Chickamauga, Georgia typically contain standardized information as required by Georgia law. These documents serve as official records of an individual's interaction with law enforcement and subsequent processing through the criminal justice system.
Standard information contained in Chickamauga arrest records includes:
- Subject's full legal name and any documented aliases
- Date of birth and demographic information
- Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
- Residential address at time of arrest
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Statutory charges filed at time of booking
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking photograph ("mugshot")
- Fingerprint classification data
- Case/incident number
- Bail or bond information
- Initial court appearance date
- Detention facility information
Pursuant to Georgia law, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, including:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Medical information protected under HIPAA
- Information related to victims of certain crimes
- Financial account information
The Walker County Clerk of Superior Court maintains court records related to arrests, including indictments, accusations, and disposition information. These records may be accessed at:
Walker County Clerk of Superior Court
103 South Duke Street
LaFayette, GA 30728
Phone: (706) 638-2881
Walker County Courts
Expungement of Arrest Records in Chickamauga
Under Georgia law, certain individuals may be eligible to restrict public access to their arrest records through a process formerly known as expungement, now referred to as record restriction. The Georgia Criminal Record Restriction Law (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37) establishes the criteria and procedures for this process.
Eligibility for record restriction in Chickamauga generally applies to arrests that:
- Did not result in a conviction
- Were dismissed or nolle prossed
- Resulted in completed first offender or conditional discharge
- Meet criteria for youthful offender provisions
- Were resolved through certain diversion programs
- Resulted in pardons for certain offenses
The record restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, which in Chickamauga would typically be:
Chickamauga Police Department
103 Crittenden Avenue
Chickamauga, GA 30707
Phone: (706) 375-3177
City of Chickamauga
Applicants must complete Form RC-1, available at the police department or through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website. The application must include:
- Certified copies of final dispositions from the appropriate court
- Government-issued photo identification
- Processing fee (currently $25, subject to change)
- Supporting documentation for eligibility
Upon approval, the record restriction process removes eligible arrest records from public access, though they remain available to law enforcement agencies and certain employers as specified in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(i)(2).
Individuals with arrests in multiple jurisdictions must file separate applications with each arresting agency. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducts final review of all approved local agency applications before implementing statewide record restriction.
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