Terrell County Recent Arrest Records Lookup

Terrell County recent arrests are handled by the Sheriff's Office in Dawson, a small county in southwest Georgia with roughly 8,500 people. The sheriff operates the county jail and maintains the arrest log for every booking that takes place in Terrell County. If you need to look up a recent arrest or find an older record, there are both local and state tools available to help. Georgia law makes most arrest records public, and the process for requesting them is straightforward. This page covers how to search for Terrell County recent arrests and what you should know before you start.

Terrell County Sheriff's Office Recent Arrests

Sheriff Vernon Jessie leads the Terrell County Sheriff's Office in Dawson. This is the only agency that books people into the county jail and creates arrest records for Terrell County. Each booking logs the person's name, date of birth, the charge, bond amount, and the arresting officer. That record goes on file and becomes available to the public under Georgia's open records law.

The mailing address is PO Box 463 in Dawson. Terrell County is a rural area with a small population, so the sheriff's office processes fewer bookings than what you would see in metro Georgia. That generally means faster turnaround on records requests. You can call the office at (229) 995-4488 to ask about a recent arrest. For copies, visit during regular business hours and bring your ID. Staff at the Terrell County Sheriff's Office can pull up the booking log and search by name while you wait. Most requests for standard arrest records get handled the same day.

How to Find Recent Arrest Records in Terrell County

The quickest way to check on a Terrell County arrest is to call (229) 995-4488. Give the person's name and the staff will search the booking system. For printed copies, go to the office in Dawson during business hours. Terrell County does not operate a public online jail roster, so phone and in-person contact are the primary local options.

State databases cover the online side. The Georgia Crime Information Center from the GBI is the state's main criminal records hub. It includes all arrests made in Terrell County and every other Georgia county. The Georgia Felon Search is a free tool for checking felony convictions across the state. If a Terrell County arrest ended in a felony conviction, it will show up there.

The GDC offender search shown below can help you find someone who went from a Terrell County arrest into the state prison system. The Georgia Department of Corrections maintains this tool.

The GDC search covers every state prison facility and is updated regularly.

For court records tied to a Terrell County arrest, use the E-Access court records portal or the re:SearchGA system. Both pull from Georgia court databases and let you search by name or case number. They are useful for seeing what happened after the booking stage in Terrell County.

Terrell County Recent Arrests and Georgia Law

Each arrest in Terrell County must follow Georgia Code 17-4-27. This statute sets the rules for how officers conduct an arrest. The booking record at the Terrell County jail reflects those requirements. It documents the charge, when the arrest took place, where it happened, and who was responsible.

Georgia's open records law under Code 50-18-72 requires the Terrell County Sheriff's Office to respond to records requests within three business days. A copying fee may apply, but the office cannot refuse a standard request for arrest records. Active investigations, sealed records, and juvenile cases are the exceptions. Everything else is open to the public in Terrell County.

Full criminal history reports are governed by Georgia Code 35-3-37. A name search through GCIC gives limited results. A fingerprint-based search provides the complete picture for Terrell County and all of Georgia. Standard arrest records from the sheriff's office are much easier to obtain than a full background report.

Note: The Dawson Police Department also makes arrests in the city limits, but all bookings go through the Terrell County jail.

Mugshots and Record Restrictions Recent Arrests

Booking photos from the Terrell County jail are part of the public record. They can be requested just like any other arrest file document. Third-party mugshot websites sometimes post these photos without context. The Georgia Department of Law has info on those sites and your options if your booking photo was posted after a Terrell County arrest.

Certain arrest records in Terrell County may be restricted. Under Georgia Code 35-1-19, first offenders who finish their sentence can apply to restrict the record. Once restricted, it drops out of public searches. Juvenile records are sealed automatically. If you get no results from a Terrell County search, the record could be restricted or the arrest may not have occurred there.

Terrell County Court Records After Arrest

Terrell County is in the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. After a booking, the case moves to the courts. Felony charges go to Superior Court in Dawson. Misdemeanors are handled in Magistrate Court or State Court. The clerk of court keeps all case files once formal charges are brought. Court records are separate from the booking log at the sheriff's office.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a statewide directory you can use to find contact info for the Terrell County Sheriff or sheriffs in nearby counties. If an arrest happened near the county border, the person might have been booked in a different jurisdiction. This directory helps you check quickly.

Cities in Terrell County

Terrell County includes Dawson, the county seat, along with the small community of Sasser. All arrests in the area go through the Terrell County Sheriff's Office or the Dawson Police Department.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Terrell County. If you are not sure where an arrest was processed, check the arresting agency on the record or contact the sheriff in the relevant county.