Access Worth County Booking Releases

Worth County booking releases are recorded and held by the Worth County Sheriff's Office in Sylvester, Georgia. The sheriff runs the county jail and logs every person who comes in and goes out. You can access Worth County booking release data by calling the office, visiting in person, or submitting a written request. All booking records in Worth County are public under state law, and the sheriff must make them available to anyone who asks. This page covers how to find booking releases, what the records show, and which state tools can help.

Worth County Sheriff and Jail Booking Records

The Worth County Sheriff's Office is in Sylvester, the county seat. The sheriff runs the county jail and all law enforcement duties in the unincorporated parts of the county. Every arrest in Worth County goes through the jail for booking. Staff record the person's name, age, charges, and the date they were brought in. When the person is released, the date and method of release get added to the file.

Georgia requires this record keeping by law. O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7 says the sheriff shall keep a record of all persons committed to the county jail. That record must include the inmate's name, age, sex, race, the crime charged, the date of commitment, and the date of discharge. The law goes further and says these records are subject to examination by any person under the Open Records Act. Worth County follows this statute just like every other county in Georgia.

Worth County has a moderate population and handles a steady flow of bookings and releases throughout the year. The jail serves Sylvester and the rest of the county. If someone is arrested by any law enforcement agency in Worth County, their booking release record ends up at the sheriff's office.

How to Find Worth County Booking Releases

Call the Worth County Sheriff's Office to check on a booking or release. Give them the person's full name and date of birth. Staff can search the system and tell you if someone is in jail or when they were released. This is the fastest method for current and recent records.

You can visit the office in Sylvester to see the jail docket in person. Georgia law says the sheriff must maintain a public record of all bookings and releases. This log is available during business hours. Walk in and ask to look at it. You do not need an appointment or a stated reason. The jail docket shows names, dates, charges, and release information for everyone processed through the Worth County jail.

For people who moved from the Worth County jail to state prison, search the GDC offender database. The Georgia Department of Corrections keeps records on all state inmates. You can search by name, ID, or case number. This tool helps if someone was booked in Worth County and then sentenced to a state facility. GDC says you should confirm any data through written correspondence with Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.

The GDC offender search tool shows current inmates in Georgia state prisons who may have been booked in Worth County first.

Search by name or case number to find someone transferred from Worth County.

Worth County Open Records Requests

You can file a formal open records request with the Worth County Sheriff's Office for certified copies of booking release records. The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 establishes your right to these documents. The county has three business days to respond.

Put your request in writing. Include the person's name, any dates you know, and your own contact information. Copies run $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, fees are based on employee hourly rates. The office will give you an estimate if costs go past $25. You can mail the request or drop it off at the sheriff's office in Sylvester.

Not all records are subject to release. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 lists exemptions to Georgia's Open Records Act. Records from pending investigations can be withheld. Medical records need a signed consent form. But standard booking release data in Worth County, like names, charges, and dates, is public and available to anyone.

Booking Release Record Contents

Worth County booking release records contain the inmate's full name, date of birth, and physical description. The record lists every charge and shows the arresting agency. Booking date and time are logged when the person enters the jail. Release information includes the date, the type of release, and any bond details. Court case numbers may also be part of the record if the case has moved to that stage.

O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 governs the release of booking photographs in Georgia. Worth County follows this law when handling requests for mugshots. The statute limits when photos can be given out to the public. If you need a booking photo from Worth County, you may need to file a written request and the sheriff will apply the rules in the statute before releasing it.

Note: Probation records in Georgia are confidential under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-40 and cannot be obtained through the Worth County Sheriff's Office or through open records requests.

State Resources for Worth County Records

Several state tools can help you find booking release data that ties to Worth County. The VINE system lets you track inmates and get alerts when they are released or moved. This service is free, works for Worth County and all other Georgia jails, and sends alerts by phone, text, or email. You can sign up at vinelink.com or call 833-216-6670.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which holds criminal history records on nearly 4 million offenders statewide. GCIC connects booking data across all Georgia counties. For state-level open records, use the GBI Open Records portal or the GDC Open Records portal.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a full directory of all 159 county sheriffs including Worth County.

Register on VINE to get instant alerts when someone leaves the Worth County jail.

Nearby Counties

Worth County borders several other counties in south Georgia. Each one has its own sheriff and jail with separate booking release records.