Search Augusta Recent Arrests
Recent arrests in Augusta go through the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, which runs the jail and handles all bookings for the consolidated city-county government. Augusta is the second largest city in Georgia with over 206,000 residents. The city and county merged in 1996, so the sheriff serves as the main law enforcement arm for arrests across Augusta. You can search for recent arrests and current inmates through the Richmond County Sheriff's online inmate inquiry tool, which shows booking details and charges for people held at the jail.
Augusta Quick Facts
Richmond County Sheriff Recent Arrests
Augusta operates under a consolidated government with Richmond County. There is no separate city police force for most law enforcement duties. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office handles arrests, jail operations, and court security for Augusta. Sheriff Gino Brantley leads the department. All arrests in Augusta are booked through the Richmond County Detention Center.
| Agency | Richmond County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901 |
| Phone | 706-821-1068 |
| Website | richmondcountysheriffsoffice.com |
The sheriff's office has patrol divisions that cover all of Augusta. Deputies respond to calls and make arrests across the city. Because of the consolidation, there is one main booking process for everyone arrested in Augusta. The detention center holds inmates before trial and processes bookings around the clock. You can reach the jail directly for questions about a specific person who was arrested in Augusta recently.
The consolidated setup means fewer agencies to deal with when you need arrest records. Everything flows through one sheriff's office. That makes it simpler to track down records compared to cities where you might have to check both a police department and a county sheriff separately.
Augusta Inmate Search
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate inquiry tool for recent arrests in Augusta. You can use it to look up anyone held at the detention center. The tool is at the Richmond County Inmate Inquiry page on the sheriff's website.
The inmate search shows results that include the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond information. You can search by last name or by booking number if you have it. The system updates as new bookings come in throughout the day. It covers people currently held at the jail. Once a person is released, they may drop off the active list after a short time. If you need records for someone who was already released from a recent Augusta arrest, you may need to contact the sheriff's office directly or request records through other channels.
The screenshot below shows the Richmond County inmate inquiry page where you can start a search for recent arrests in Augusta.
The page is straightforward to use. Enter a last name and click search. You do not need an account or login. Results come up right away. If you get too many results, add a first name to narrow things down. This is the fastest way to check on a recent arrest in Augusta without calling the jail.
How to Find Augusta Recent Arrest Records
Beyond the jail roster, there are state-level tools for finding arrest records tied to Augusta. The Georgia Crime Information Center at the GBI keeps the statewide criminal history database. A GCIC check shows arrest records from Augusta and everywhere else in Georgia. You submit a request with the required identification and pay a processing fee. Fingerprint-based checks are the most thorough.
For court records tied to Augusta arrests, the E-Access Court Records system lets you search cases in the Richmond County court system. You can look up case filings, hearing dates, and outcomes for arrests that went to prosecution. The re:SearchGA portal is another option for courts that use the Tyler Technologies platform.
The state also has tools for specific types of records. The Felon Search database shows people convicted of felonies in Georgia, including those from Augusta cases. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers people serving state prison sentences. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association also keeps a statewide directory of sheriff contacts if you need to reach another jurisdiction about an Augusta-related arrest.
State Tools for Augusta Records
The Georgia Felon Search database covers felony convictions across the state. This can help you find records for Augusta arrests that ended with a felony conviction and sentencing. The tool is free and open to anyone.
The felon search tool is free to use. Enter a name and the system pulls up matching records. It shows the conviction county, offense, and sentence details. For Augusta cases, Richmond County will show as the conviction location. This tool only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanor arrests or cases that were dismissed will not appear here. Use the GCIC or court records systems for those.
Georgia Law on Augusta Recent Arrests
Arrest records in Augusta are public under Georgia's Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 sets out what government records are open to the public and what falls under an exemption. Booking information, charges, and basic arrest details are generally accessible to anyone. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office must respond to open records requests within a reasonable time frame set by the law.
The arrest process in Augusta follows O.C.G.A. § 17-4-27, which lays out the procedures officers must follow when making an arrest and creating the arrest record. This statute applies to every law enforcement agency in the state. Deputies in Augusta follow these same rules. The information captured at the time of arrest becomes the foundation of the booking record at the Richmond County jail.
Booking photos taken during Augusta arrests fall under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19. Georgia passed this law to address concerns about mugshot websites that collect and publish booking photos for profit. The law limits how third parties can use these images commercially. Law enforcement agencies can still release mugshots as part of their public records, but the restrictions aim to prevent exploitation. The Richmond County Sheriff may include booking photos in their inmate search results as part of routine jail operations.
Restricting Augusta Arrest Records
If you were arrested in Augusta and the charges were dropped or you were found not guilty, you may qualify for record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Record restriction in Georgia does not erase the arrest. It seals the record so it does not show up in standard background checks. Law enforcement and certain agencies can still see restricted records.
To get an Augusta arrest record restricted, you file a petition with the Richmond County court where the case was handled. The petition must explain the outcome of the case and why you qualify. There is a fee to file. The prosecutor can review the petition and object if they choose. If the court grants it, the GBI updates the criminal history database so the arrest no longer appears in public searches.
Convictions usually cannot be restricted. The law focuses on cases where the person was not found guilty. Certain offenses are excluded from restriction regardless of the outcome. These include sex offenses and crimes involving children. If you think your Augusta arrest qualifies, it helps to speak with a local attorney who handles expungement and restriction cases in Richmond County.
Note: Record restriction can take several weeks to process after the court grants the petition in Augusta.
Augusta Arrest Record Resources
The Richmond County Clerk of Superior Court handles court records for felony and serious misdemeanor cases from Augusta arrests. You can visit the clerk's office at the Augusta Judicial Center to search records in person or request copies. The clerk can pull up cases by name or case number. Certified copies have a fee that varies by document type.
Augusta also has a Magistrate Court that handles preliminary hearings and warrant applications. If an arrest warrant was issued before the arrest, the magistrate court would have a record of the warrant. These records are separate from the Superior Court and may not show up in the same search. Contact the Magistrate Court directly if you need warrant-related records from an Augusta arrest.
For free legal help, residents can reach out to Georgia Legal Services for advice on records issues. The Augusta Bar Association can refer you to local attorneys who handle criminal records cases. The Richmond County Law Library at the courthouse has forms and resources if you want to handle a records request or restriction petition on your own.
Richmond County Recent Arrests
Augusta is the county seat of Richmond County under the consolidated government. All arrest bookings in Augusta go through the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. For the full county page with more details on the jail, booking process, and related records, visit the Richmond County recent arrests page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Augusta in the CSRA region. Each has its own page with arrest record information and local contacts.