Augusta Booking Reports and Arrest Records
Augusta booking reports are handled by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, which runs the detention facility serving the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government. The sheriff's office provides an online inmate inquiry tool where you can search by name to find current custody status, charges, and booking dates for people held in the Richmond County jail. Records are public under Georgia's Open Records Act, and the online tool is free to use after accepting a short disclaimer.
Augusta Quick Facts
Richmond County Inmate Search Tool
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate inquiry system that covers people currently held at the Richmond County Detention Center. To access it, go to the Richmond County inmate inquiry page. You will need to accept a disclaimer before the search results appear. This is a standard step — the sheriff's office includes it to clarify that the data is for public information only.
As the sheriff's office states: "The City of Augusta and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office provide access to current inmate information as a service to the general public." The search returns the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond status. Results reflect who is in custody right now, not historical booking data. If you are looking for older records, you may need to contact the sheriff's office directly or request records through the Open Records Act.
Richmond County Sheriff's Office website
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office website provides access to the inmate inquiry tool and other public information resources.
Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government
Augusta and Richmond County merged into a single consolidated government in 1996. As a result, there is no separate city police department and county sheriff operating in parallel the way other Georgia cities work. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for most of the consolidated area. Arrests made in Augusta go through the sheriff's office and are booked into the Richmond County Detention Center.
The consolidated government structure means the sheriff's office is the primary place to look for booking records. You can reach the sheriff's office through the Richmond County Sheriff's Office website. For court records and case filings that follow an arrest, check the Augusta Judicial Circuit courts.
Keep in mind that booking records show what someone was charged with at the time of arrest. Charges can change as a case moves through court. A booking record does not mean someone was convicted. It only shows the arrest and the initial charges filed.
What Augusta Booking Records Contain
Each booking record typically shows the person's full name and any aliases, date of birth, the date and time they were booked into the jail, the charges listed at booking, the arresting agency, and whether bond has been set. Mugshot images may also be available depending on the system.
These records are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 (Georgia's Open Records Act). There are some exemptions. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, certain records tied to active investigations or protected categories may be withheld. In practice, most booking data is public and routinely available through the online search tool.
Georgia also restricts how booking photos can be used commercially. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, websites that post mugshots and charge for removal are prohibited from doing so. This law does not stop agencies from releasing booking photos — it just controls what commercial sites can do with them.
GBI and Statewide Criminal History Records
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains statewide criminal history records through the Georgia Crime Information Center. A GBI record may include arrests from across Georgia, not just Richmond County. If you need a more complete picture of someone's history, a GCIC check will show more than the jail's current roster.
Visit the GBI GCIC page for details on how to request records or call 404-244-2639. For people serving time in state prison rather than the county jail, use the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search.
Record Restriction in Augusta
Georgia law allows some people to restrict their criminal records from public view. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, people who were acquitted, had charges dismissed, or completed certain sentences may petition for record restriction. First-time offenders sentenced under the First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) may also qualify.
Record restriction does not delete the arrest. It limits who can see the record in background checks — for example, private employers or landlords generally would not see a restricted record, but law enforcement still can. To start the process, contact the arresting agency and the GBI. An attorney can help navigate the steps, and legal aid may be available for those who qualify.
VINE Notifications for Augusta Inmates
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free service that lets people track custody status at the Richmond County Detention Center. If you sign up, you will get an alert when someone is released, transferred, or escapes.
Register at VINELink.com or call 1-877-846-3592 at any time. You can choose to be notified by phone, email, or text. VINE is designed for victims and concerned community members. It does not show charge details or booking records — it only tracks custody changes.
Richmond County Booking Records
All Augusta arrests are processed through the Richmond County consolidated government. The county page has full details on the jail system, court access, and record request procedures.