Echols County Booking Releases

Echols County booking releases are handled by the Echols County Sheriff's Office in Statenville, Georgia. This is one of the smallest and least populated counties in the entire state, sitting along the Florida border in south Georgia. The Sheriff's Office runs a small jail and keeps records of all bookings and releases. Because the county has such a low population, the number of bookings each year is quite small compared to most Georgia counties. Public access to these records follows the same state laws that apply everywhere else in Georgia.

Sheriff and Booking Records

The Echols County Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement and jail duties in the county. The office is in Statenville, which is the county seat. With fewer than 4,000 residents, Echols County is one of Georgia's least populated counties. The jail is small, and the number of bookings each year reflects the size of the community.

Even so, the law still applies. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, every county sheriff in Georgia must keep a record of each person held in the jail. The record must list the person's name, booking date, charges, and release date. Echols County follows this rule just like every other county in the state.

Because the jail is small, inmates may sometimes be housed in a neighboring county's facility. If that happens, the booking record is still tied to Echols County if the arrest was made here. Ask the Sheriff's Office if you are having trouble finding a record.

How to Search Booking Releases

Echols County does not have an online inmate search tool. This is common for smaller counties that do not have the budget for web-based jail systems. To search for booking releases, you need to contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Call them and ask about the person you are looking for. Staff can check their records and tell you if someone is in custody or has been released.

For official copies, you must file an open records request. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, you have the right to request these records. The county has three business days to respond. Put your request in writing and send it to the Sheriff's Office in Statenville. Include the person's full name and any other details you have.

The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center maintains statewide criminal history data that may include records from Echols County.

This state resource can be useful if you need records that span multiple counties or agencies across Georgia.

The first 15 minutes of search time are free. Copies cost $0.10 per page. Most requests for booking releases are simple and should not take the staff long to process. If you cannot visit in person, mail your request to the Sheriff's Office.

Open Records for Echols County Booking Releases

Georgia's Open Records Act sets the rules for how Echols County handles records requests. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, you do not have to explain why you want the records. The county just needs a clear description of what you are asking for.

The three-day response window is standard. The county can provide the records, deny the request with a legal reason, or ask for more time. Most booking release requests from Echols County are simple because the volume is low. You should not face long waits for routine requests.

Fees are the same as the rest of Georgia. Copies at $0.10 per page and no charge for the first 15 minutes of search time.

What Booking Releases Show

Booking release records from Echols County include the inmate's full name, date of birth, physical description, charges, booking date, arresting agency, and release date. The release method is also noted. These records are part of the jail's management system and are kept for years.

Booking photos have separate rules under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18. Some records may be exempt under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, which covers exceptions like juvenile records and sealed cases. Adult booking releases are generally public in Echols County.

Given the county's small size, most records requests are handled quickly. There are simply fewer records to search through compared to larger counties in Georgia.

Statewide Booking Release Resources

State databases can help if you need records beyond what Echols County holds. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers anyone in the state prison system. If someone was booked in Echols County and transferred to a state facility, you can find them there.

The VINE notification system works for all Georgia counties. Sign up for free and get alerts when an inmate's status changes. For state-level open records requests, use the GDC Open Records portal or the GBI Open Records portal.

Nearby Counties

Echols County borders a few other counties in south Georgia. If you need booking releases from a neighboring area, contact the correct sheriff's office.