Evans Booking Reports
Evans booking reports are maintained by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, which serves all of Columbia County including Evans. Evans is an unincorporated community, meaning it has no city government or city police department. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement and jail operations for the area. When someone is arrested in Evans, they are booked into the Columbia County Detention Center in Appling. Those records are public under Georgia's Open Records Act. To search current or past Evans booking reports, contact the Columbia County Sheriff's Office directly.
Evans Quick Facts
Columbia County Sheriff and Evans Arrests
Evans is an unincorporated community within Columbia County. It has no incorporated city government, no city council, and no city police department. Law enforcement in Evans comes from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, which patrols the area and handles all arrests made within county jurisdiction. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff is required to maintain records on every person booked into custody. That includes all Evans arrests.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office can be reached at 706-541-0975. For questions about a specific Evans arrest or booking record, that is the right number to call. The sheriff's office can tell you whether someone is in custody and how to request a copy of a booking record. Bring the full name of the person and the approximate date of arrest when you call or visit in person.
Columbia County Sheriff's Office information is available at columbiacountyso.org. Check the website for any updates to contact information, office hours, or available online tools.
Columbia County Detention Center
The Columbia County Detention Center is located at 2273 County Camp Rd, Appling, GA 30802. Appling is the county seat of Columbia County. The detention center's direct phone number is 706-541-0754. All Evans arrests are transported to this facility for booking and detention. The facility is where formal booking records are created, including intake photographs, fingerprints, and charge documentation.
Important: As of the most recent information available from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, an online inmate list is no longer available on the website. If you need to check whether someone from Evans is in custody, you must call the detention center directly at 706-541-0754 or visit in person at the County Camp Road address. The switch away from online posting was a policy decision by the county — it does not mean the records are not public. They remain accessible through a records request or an in-person inquiry.
The detention center can tell you whether a specific person is in custody, confirm the booking date and charges, and direct you to the right process for requesting a copy of the booking record. Have a valid photo ID ready if you are visiting in person, and know the full name of the person you are asking about.
Note: Always call the detention center directly at 706-541-0754 to confirm current custody status for Evans inmates, since no public online roster is available.
No City Police in Evans
Evans differs from other communities on this site because it has no city government. There is no Evans Police Department, no city hall, and no city courts. All law enforcement is provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. This is common in Georgia for unincorporated communities, where residents fall under county government rather than a city structure.
When someone is arrested in Evans, the arrest is made by a Columbia County Sheriff's deputy. The person is then taken to the Columbia County Detention Center in Appling for booking. The resulting booking record is held by the Columbia County Sheriff, not any city agency, because no city agency exists for Evans.
Nearby Appling is the county seat and where most county government offices are located. For Evans residents who need to visit a county office or courthouse in person, Appling is the destination. The detention center, sheriff's office, and county courthouse are all in the Appling area.
Requesting Evans Booking Records
Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq. gives the public the right to request booking records from government agencies. For Evans arrests, the right agency is the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Agencies must respond within three business days. With no online roster available for Columbia County, a phone call or in-person visit is the primary way to get Evans booking information.
Some records are exempt from public disclosure. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 lists categories that agencies may withhold, including active investigation files and juvenile records. Routine adult booking reports from Evans arrests are generally public. If the sheriff withholds a specific record, they must identify the applicable exemption.
To submit an Open Records request to the Columbia County Sheriff, call 706-541-0975 or write to the office at the Appling address. A simple written request describing the record you want, the person's name, and the approximate arrest date is all you need. No specific form is required under Georgia law.
Booking Photos and Georgia Law
Georgia's booking photo law at O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 bars commercial websites from posting mugshots and charging fees for removal. It does not prevent the Columbia County Sheriff from releasing a booking photo as part of an Open Records request. If you need a booking photo from an Evans arrest, request it from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. The office will advise on availability and the copy fee, if any.
VINE and Inmate Notifications
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is available for tracking custody changes at the Columbia County Detention Center. If someone you are monitoring is released, transferred, or has a status change, VINE sends you an alert by phone, text, or email. The service is free. Sign up at VINELink.com or call 1-877-846-3592.
Because the Columbia County Detention Center does not have a public online roster, VINE is particularly useful for Evans-area residents who need to monitor custody status. Rather than repeatedly calling the detention center, you can receive automatic notifications when there is a change. VINE is available 24 hours a day.
For inmate phone access and commissary services at the Columbia County Detention Center, check with the facility at 706-541-0754. Providers like JailATM and Securus Technologies may serve the facility. Contact the detention center to confirm which services are available for Evans inmates in custody.
Statewide Records and GBI
The GBI Georgia Crime Information Center holds statewide criminal history data covering all 159 Georgia counties, including Columbia. A GCIC record may include arrests from Evans alongside records from other Georgia jurisdictions. This is a more complete view than a single county booking report.
The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers state prison inmates. Evans residents convicted of serious offenses and transferred to state custody can be located through the GDC system after they leave the Columbia County Detention Center.
The GDC offender search at services.gdc.ga.gov covers people serving state sentences. Once someone from Evans is convicted and moved to a state prison, they leave the Columbia County system. The GDC search is where you look next. The county detention center and the state prison system are separate, and a person will appear in only one of those databases at any given time.
Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows some individuals to seal criminal records from civilian background checks. Eligible people include those whose charges were dismissed, who were acquitted, or who completed sentences for qualifying offenses. The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 provides a path for first-time offenders who complete probation. Evans residents should consult a local attorney for help filing a petition through the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and the GBI.
Nearby Communities with Booking Record Pages
Other qualifying areas near Evans with booking record pages:
Columbia County Booking Reports
Evans arrests are handled entirely by Columbia County, which provides all law enforcement and jail services for the unincorporated community. The county page covers the full detention center, sheriff's contact information, and how to request booking records.