Towns County Booking Releases
Towns County booking releases are kept by the Towns County Sheriff's Office in Hiawassee, Georgia. Sitting in the far northeast corner of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Towns County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia by population. The sheriff's office runs the local jail and logs every arrest and release. If you need to find a booking release from Towns County, you can call the sheriff's office, visit in person at the courthouse in Hiawassee, or submit a written records request.
Towns County Quick Facts
Sheriff and Jail Records
The Towns County Sheriff's Office is the sole agency that runs the county jail. The office is in Hiawassee. Staff log every person who is brought in and track their release date once they leave. The sheriff handles law enforcement for the entire county, including the small towns and mountain communities spread across the area.
Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, every Georgia sheriff must keep a record of all people held in the county jail. Towns County follows this rule. Each booking record must list the inmate's name, booking date, charges, and release date. The jail handles arrests from sheriff's deputies, the Hiawassee Police Department, and the Young Harris Police Department.
Towns County sits along the North Carolina border. Some arrests in the area may involve people from both states. If someone was arrested in Towns County, the booking goes through the county jail regardless of where the person is from. The sheriff's office can confirm whether a particular person was booked locally.
To contact the Towns County Sheriff's Office, call or visit in person in Hiawassee. The jail operates around the clock, so staff can check on current inmates at any time. Business hours are best for records requests.
How to Find Towns County Bookings
Towns County does not run a web-based inmate search portal. To find a booking release, call the jail directly. Staff can check their system by name and tell you about current or recent bookings. This is the fastest method for most people.
For a copy of a booking release record, file an open records request with the Towns County Sheriff's Office. Put your request in writing and include the person's full name and any other details. A date of birth or arrest date will help staff find the right record. The office has three business days to respond.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a directory of all county sheriff offices in the state, including Towns County.
Use this resource to find up-to-date contact details for the Towns County Sheriff's Office and other jails across Georgia.
State databases can help too. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers state prison inmates. The VINE notification system lets you track custody changes and get alerts when someone is released. Both are free and work for all Georgia counties, including Towns.
Open Records for Towns County Booking Releases
The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives you the right to request booking release records from the Towns County Sheriff's Office. You do not need a reason. The office has three business days to respond once they get your written request.
Copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff search time is free. After that, a reasonable hourly rate may apply. For most single-record requests in a small county like Towns, the cost is minimal. Send your request to the sheriff's office in Hiawassee by mail or in person.
The law says the office must provide the records, ask for more time, or explain why they cannot release certain parts. Most basic booking release info is available without issue. Only records tied to active cases or sealed by a court may be held back.
What Booking Releases Contain
Towns County booking release records include the inmate's full name, date of birth, and physical description. They show the charges, the arresting agency, and the booking date and time. The release date and method are added when the person leaves. Bond amounts are usually noted in the file.
Booking photos may be on file. O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 sets rules for how booking photos can be shared in Georgia. Towns County follows these state guidelines. Some photo requests may be denied.
Certain records are exempt from disclosure under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. These include records related to active investigations, confidential informant details, and some medical info about inmates. Towns County must follow these exemptions when processing requests. Sealed records are not released.
Statewide Booking Release Resources
State-level tools can extend your search beyond what Towns County holds. The GDC offender search covers all state prison inmates. The VINE system tracks custody changes across Georgia.
The GDC Open Records portal and the GBI Open Records portal handle state-level open records requests. Both are useful when someone from Towns County has records with state agencies. These portals are free to use.
Nearby Counties
If the arrest did not happen in Towns County, these neighboring counties keep their own booking release records. Each has a separate sheriff and jail.