Search Webster County Booking Releases

Webster County booking releases are managed by the Webster County Sheriff's Office in Preston. This is one of the least populated counties in all of Georgia, and the sheriff handles a low number of bookings compared to larger areas. Even so, the same state laws that govern booking records in Atlanta or Savannah apply here. The sheriff's office maintains records of every person who passes through the county jail. You can access booking release records by contacting the office in Preston or by filing an open records request under Georgia law.

Webster County Sheriff Booking Releases

The Webster County Sheriff's Office is the keeper of all booking release records in the county. The jail in Preston handles all arrests made by local law enforcement and state officers working in the area. Staff log every booking into the system and add release information when the person leaves.

Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, every Georgia sheriff must keep a record of each person held in the county jail. Webster County is no exception. The law applies to every county in the state, no matter the size. The record must include the person's name, booking date, charges, and release date.

Because Webster County is so small, the number of bookings is low. This actually makes it easier in some ways to find records. The staff know the system well and can pull up information quickly. A phone call is often all it takes to find out if someone was booked or released.

Some very small counties in Georgia share jail facilities with neighboring counties. If Webster County does not operate its own jail at a given time, inmates may be housed in a nearby county. The sheriff's office can tell you where a person is being held and which facility has the booking records.

How to Search for Bookings

Calling the Webster County Sheriff's Office in Preston is the most direct way to find booking release information. Give the staff the person's name and date of birth if you have it. They can check the system and tell you what they find. In a small county, this kind of request is handled fast.

Online inmate search tools are less common in small counties like Webster. If there is no web-based lookup available, the phone or in-person approach is your best option. You can visit the sheriff's office during business hours and ask the staff to look up a name for you.

The GBI GCIC Division supports criminal records management across all Georgia counties.

The GCIC helps connect county-level booking data with state criminal justice records.

For written copies of booking release records, file a request with the sheriff's office. Include the person's name, any dates, and your contact information. The office will respond with what they have. Small counties typically turn these around quickly since the volume of records is manageable.

Open Records for Webster County Booking Releases

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives you the right to request booking release records from Webster County. The law applies to all government agencies. You do not need to state a reason for your request.

The county has three business days to respond. Copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. In a county as small as Webster, most requests take only a few minutes to process. The entire cost for a typical request may be just a few dimes for copies.

If any part of the request is denied, the office must tell you why in writing. Denials are rare for basic booking release data since most of it is public. The law requires agencies to release records unless a specific exemption applies.

What Booking Releases Include

A booking release record from Webster County lists the person's full name, date of birth, physical description, charges, arresting agency, and booking date. The release date and method get added when the person leaves. Bond information is included when it applies.

Booking photos are covered by O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18, which sets rules about how mugshots can be shared. Webster County follows these state rules when someone requests a booking photo.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, certain records are exempt from public access. This covers ongoing investigations, juvenile matters, and sealed court orders. If any exemption applies to the booking release you asked for, the sheriff's office will let you know.

Statewide Booking Release Search Resources

For searches that go beyond Webster County, use state-level tools. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers anyone in a state prison. If someone was booked in Webster County and transferred to state corrections, this tool will show their current status.

The VINE notification system tracks inmate custody changes across Georgia. Register for alerts and get notified when someone's status changes. This covers Webster County and every other county in the state. The service is free.

State-level open records portals for the GDC and GBI handle requests for records from state agencies.

Cities in Webster County

Webster County has no cities over 100,000 in population. Preston is the county seat and the only real town. All arrests in Preston and the rest of Webster County are handled by the sheriff's office. Booking release records for the entire county are in one place.

Nearby Counties

Each neighboring county operates its own jail and keeps separate booking release records. Search the county where the arrest took place.