Toombs County Recent Arrests

Toombs County recent arrests are filed through the Sheriff's Office in Lyons, a county in southeast Georgia with a population around 27,000. The sheriff runs the jail and manages the booking log for every arrest in Toombs County. Lyons and Vidalia are the two largest cities, and arrests from both police departments get booked at the county jail. If you are trying to look up a recent booking or search for an older arrest record in Toombs County, this page walks you through every option and explains how Georgia law applies to public access.

Toombs County Sheriff's Office Recent Arrests

Sheriff Jordan Kight heads the Toombs County Sheriff's Office in Lyons. This is the main law enforcement agency for the county and the one that processes all jail bookings. Each time someone is arrested and brought to the Toombs County jail, the staff creates a record with the charge, the person's name, date of birth, bond amount, and the name of the arresting officer. That record becomes part of the public file.

The office is at 357 NW Broad Street Suite 1 in Lyons. Toombs County sits in the heart of the Vidalia onion region, and the population of around 27,000 makes it one of the larger counties in this part of Georgia. The Vidalia Police Department, Lyons Police Department, and other local agencies all make arrests that end up at the Toombs County jail. That means the sheriff's office holds booking records for every arrest made within the county, regardless of which agency started the case. If you need to search for a specific record, the sheriff's office is the first place to check.

How to Find Recent Arrest Records in Toombs County

Call (912) 526-6778 for the fastest check on a recent arrest in Toombs County. Give a name and the staff can search the booking system. If you need printed copies, go to the office at 357 NW Broad Street in Lyons during business hours. Bring a valid ID. Toombs County does not maintain a public online jail roster, so phone and walk-in are the primary ways to access local arrest data.

State databases give you online search options. The Georgia Crime Information Center from the GBI tracks criminal history for the whole state, including every arrest in Toombs County. The Georgia Felon Search tool is free and shows felony convictions statewide. If a Toombs County arrest led to a felony conviction, that record will appear there.

The re:SearchGA portal shown in the screenshot below lets you search court records from county systems across Georgia. You can use it to track what happened with a Toombs County arrest after it went through the court system. Visit the re:SearchGA portal to start a search.

This portal is free and pulls court filings from multiple Georgia counties at the same time.

The E-Access court records portal is another tool for looking up case filings in the Georgia courts. It lets you search by name or case number. For checking whether someone went from a Toombs County arrest into state prison, use the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search.

Toombs County Recent Arrests and Georgia Law

Arrests in Toombs County must comply with Georgia Code 17-4-27. This statute sets the rules for how an arrest must be conducted. The booking record at the Toombs County jail documents the details: the charge, date, time, location, and the officer who made the arrest. This is the official record of the event.

Georgia's open records law protects your right to request these files. Under Georgia Code 50-18-72, the Toombs County Sheriff's Office must respond within three business days. A copying fee may apply, but the office cannot deny access to a standard booking record. Active investigations and juvenile cases are the main exceptions. Outside of those, Toombs County arrest records are open to anyone.

For a full criminal history report, the rules under Georgia Code 35-3-37 apply. A name search through GCIC returns basic info. Fingerprint-based searches give the complete picture for Toombs County and all of Georgia. Standard arrest records from the sheriff's office are much easier to get than a full background report.

Note: Arrests made by the Vidalia Police Department are booked at the Toombs County jail and appear in the county's booking log.

Mugshots and Restrictions in Toombs County Recent Arrests

Booking photos taken at the Toombs County jail are part of the public record under Georgia law. Some third-party websites collect and post these photos, which has been a concern across the state. The Georgia Department of Law provides resources on mugshot websites and your options if your photo was posted after a Toombs County arrest.

Some arrest records in Toombs County may qualify for restriction. Under Georgia Code 35-1-19, first offenders who complete their sentence can apply to have the record restricted. Once restricted, it will not appear in standard public searches. Juvenile cases are sealed by default. If you search for someone in Toombs County and find no results, the record could be restricted or the arrest may not have occurred in this county.

Toombs County Court Records

Toombs County gives its name to the Toombs Judicial Circuit. After a booking at the county jail, the case enters the court system. Felonies are heard in Superior Court in Lyons. Misdemeanors go to State Court or Magistrate Court. The clerk of court holds all case files once formal charges are brought, and those records are separate from the booking log at the sheriff's office.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory with contact details for the Toombs County Sheriff and every other sheriff in the state. This can help if you need to check whether an arrest happened in Toombs County or a neighboring jurisdiction. The Toombs Judicial Circuit also covers several other counties in the area, so court records for arrests in those counties may be found through the same court system.

Cities in Toombs County

Toombs County includes Lyons, the county seat, along with Vidalia, Santa Claus, and other smaller communities. Vidalia is the largest city in the area and is known statewide for its sweet onions. All arrests are processed through the Toombs County Sheriff's Office or local police departments in Lyons and Vidalia.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Toombs County. If an arrest may have happened in a neighboring jurisdiction, check the arresting agency on the booking record or contact the sheriff in the relevant county.