Clay County Recent Arrest Records Lookup

Clay County recent arrest records are handled by Sheriff Locke Shivers from the office in Fort Gaines. With a population near 2,800, this is one of the smallest and least populated counties in Georgia. Arrests here are rare compared to metro areas, but every booking still creates a public record under state law. You can search for who was booked at the Clay County jail, check charges and bond amounts, and track cases through the court system. The sheriff's office and statewide databases are your main ways to find Clay County arrest records.

Clay County Sheriff Recent Arrests

Sheriff Locke Shivers runs the Clay County Sheriff's Office at 124 Thomas Street Suite 1 in Fort Gaines. This is the only law enforcement agency that covers the whole county. The office handles patrols, investigations, and all jail operations. When someone is arrested in Clay County, the booking takes place at the county facility. Staff log the person's name, charges, and bond amount. These records are open to the public.

Clay County sits along the Chattahoochee River on Georgia's western border with Alabama. The area is very rural and lightly populated. Arrest volume here is among the lowest in the state. But the same rules apply as in any Georgia county. Every booking creates a record, and anyone has the right to see it. You can call 229-768-2505 to ask about a recent arrest. The office is small but responsive, and staff can check the jail log quickly given the low volume.

Fort Gaines does not have a separate city police department. The sheriff covers everything in Clay County, from the town to the most rural roads. That makes it simple to know where to go for arrest records.

Searching Clay County Recent Arrest Records

A phone call to 229-768-2505 is the fastest way to check on a recent arrest in Clay County. Give the staff a name and they can check the booking log. Clay County does not have an online jail roster. Phone and in-person visits are the main local options for getting arrest information. For a formal written record, submit an open records request. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, the office must respond within three business days.

Online databases cover Clay County arrests as well. The Georgia E-Access portal lets you search court cases by name. It includes Clay County filings and shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. The re:SearchGA portal is another free option that covers docket entries from Georgia courts. Both tools work for cases that have moved past the initial booking stage in Clay County.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search tracks anyone who went from a Clay County arrest to the state prison system. It shows their current facility and expected release date. Below is a look at the GDC offender search tool.

The GDC tool is helpful when you need to know if a Clay County arrest led to prison time and where the person is held now.

Clay County Recent Arrests and Georgia Law

Georgia law sets the rules for how arrests are made and recorded in Clay County. Under O.C.G.A. § 17-4-27, an arrested person must appear before a judge within 48 hours. The booking record is created at the time of arrest and includes the name, charges, date of birth, arrest date and time, and bond amount. Booking photos are also taken and become part of the public record.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, the Clay County Sheriff's Office reports arrest data to the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC stores records from every law enforcement agency in the state. Even though Clay County is tiny, its arrests feed into the same system as much larger jurisdictions. The Felon Search tool and the Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory both draw from statewide data and can help with Clay County arrest searches.

Some arrest records can be restricted over time. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows first offenders who complete their sentence to apply for record restriction. Once a record is restricted, it will not appear in most public searches. Juvenile arrest records from Clay County are sealed automatically.

Note: Clay County's very low arrest volume means some records may take longer to reach state databases after the booking.

Court Records from Clay County Arrests

Clay County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit. After an arrest, cases move through Magistrate Court for bond hearings and first appearances. Superior Court handles felonies. The clerk of court in Fort Gaines maintains all case files once formal charges are filed.

You can look up court records tied to Clay County arrests through E-Access or re:SearchGA online. Both let you search by name and see how a case progressed through the system. In person, the clerk's office can pull files for you. Court records tell a more complete story than booking records alone. They show whether charges were dropped, what plea was entered, and what sentence was handed down. If you want the full picture of a Clay County arrest, you need both the booking record and the court file.

Cities in Clay County

Clay County includes the city of Fort Gaines, the county seat and only significant community. Fort Gaines does not have a separate city police force. The sheriff handles all law enforcement across the county, and all arrests go through the Clay County booking process.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clay County along the Georgia-Alabama state line. Each one runs its own jail and keeps its own booking records.