Worth County Recent Arrests

Worth County recent arrest records are managed by Sheriff Don Whitaker at the office in Sylvester. Located in south Georgia, this county has a population near 20,300 and covers a mix of farmland and small towns. Arrest records here are public under state law, and anyone can request them. You can search for who was booked at the Worth County jail, check charges and bond amounts, and follow cases through the court system. The sheriff's office and Georgia's statewide databases both give you access to Worth County arrest information.

Worth County Sheriff Recent Arrests

Sheriff Don Whitaker heads the Worth County Sheriff's Office at 201 North Main Street in Sylvester. The office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Staff handle patrols, investigations, and all jail operations. When someone is arrested in Worth County, the booking takes place at the county jail. A record is created with the person's name, charges, bond amount, and personal information.

Worth County sees a moderate level of arrest activity. The sheriff's office covers the unincorporated areas and also processes bookings from arrests made by the Sylvester Police Department. Both agencies feed into the same jail, so all Worth County booking records end up in one place. You can call 229-776-8211 to check on a recent arrest. Staff can look up the current roster and share basic details over the phone.

For written copies of Worth County arrest records, visit the office at Room 14 of the courthouse or send a mail request. The staff will let you know about any copy fees.

How to Search Worth County Recent Arrest Records

The fastest way to check on a Worth County arrest is a phone call to 229-776-8211. Give the staff a name and they will check the jail log. For a formal copy of a booking record, submit an open records request. Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 requires a response within three business days. Worth County does not maintain an online jail roster, so phone is the main local search option.

Online tools give you more ways to search. The Georgia E-Access portal shows court cases by name and covers Worth County filings. You can track charges, court dates, and outcomes. The re:SearchGA portal is another free option for docket entries and case filings from Worth County courts.

The Georgia Felon Search tool checks for felony convictions statewide. If someone arrested in Worth County was convicted of a felony, this tool will show it. Below is a screenshot of the Felon Search page where you can enter a name to search.

Felon Search draws from the statewide criminal records system and covers convictions tied to arrests in Worth County and every other Georgia county.

Note: Some Worth County records may take a few days to show up in state databases after the booking occurs.

Georgia Law and Worth County Recent Arrests

Under O.C.G.A. § 17-4-27, anyone arrested in Worth County must see a judge within 48 hours. Booking records are created at the time of arrest. They include the person's name, date of birth, charges, arrest date, and bond amount. Booking photos are taken and become part of the public file.

The Worth County Sheriff's Office reports all arrest data to the Georgia Crime Information Center under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19. This means Worth County bookings feed into the statewide criminal records system run by the GBI. The Department of Corrections offender search can track anyone who went from a Worth County arrest to state prison.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some arrest records can be restricted. First offenders who complete their sentence may apply for record restriction. Once granted, the arrest is hidden from most public searches. Juvenile records from Worth County are sealed automatically. If a search comes up empty, the record may have been restricted or the charges were dropped before the case moved forward.

Court Records from Worth County Arrests

Worth County sits in the Tifton Judicial Circuit. After a booking, cases move through Magistrate Court for first appearances. Superior Court handles felonies, and State Court takes misdemeanors. Each court creates its own records tied to the original Worth County arrest. The clerk of court in Sylvester keeps all case files.

You can look up court records through E-Access or re:SearchGA online. Both let you search by name and track a case from charge to disposition. In person, the clerk's office in Sylvester can pull files and make copies. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory helps you confirm contact info for the Worth County office or find nearby departments. Court records show the full picture of an arrest, including plea deals, trial results, and sentencing that the booking record alone does not include.

Cities in Worth County

Worth County includes the city of Sylvester, which is the county seat and largest town. Sylvester has its own police department that makes arrests within city limits. All bookings go through the Worth County jail. Other communities include Poulan, Warwick, and Sumner.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Worth County in south Georgia. Each one operates its own jail and maintains separate booking records.