Macon Jail Records and Booking Reports Search
Macon booking reports are maintained by the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, which operates the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center and handles all arrest bookings for the Macon-Bibb County consolidated government. The sheriff's office provides a free online inmate search tool that updates every 30 minutes, letting you find current custody status, charges, and booking dates for people held at the facility. The database is public under Georgia law and is available at no cost to anyone who wants to search it.
Macon Quick Facts
Bibb County Sheriff Inmate Search
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office provides a direct online search at inmate.bibbsheriff.us. As the sheriff's office notes: "Information regarding offenders currently incarcerated in the Bibb County LEC is made available as a public service." The system refreshes every 30 minutes, so it reflects near-current custody data. You can search by name and see charges, bond status, and booking date.
For questions about specific inmates or to request records not available online, call the Bibb County Sheriff at 478-751-7500. The main sheriff's website is at bibbsheriff.us. You can also find links to additional tools there, including the GBI Sex Offender Registry and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles search.
Macon-Bibb County Consolidated Government
Macon and Bibb County merged into a single consolidated government in 2014. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement and detention for the entire consolidated area. Arrests made by Macon-Bibb County Police or by other agencies operating in the area result in bookings at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Because the government is consolidated, there is no separate city jail or city booking system. All arrest data flows through the county sheriff. If you need records from before the 2014 consolidation — when the City of Macon had its own police department booking system — you may need to contact the Bibb County clerk's office or the archives for older records.
For court records tied to criminal cases, the Macon Judicial Circuit Superior Court handles felony cases and the State Court of Bibb County handles misdemeanor matters. Court records are separate from booking records and are maintained by court clerks, not the sheriff.
What Macon Booking Records Include
A booking record from Bibb County typically contains the person's name and date of birth, the date and time they were booked, the charges listed at the time of arrest, the arresting agency, and bond information. Some records include a booking photo. These details are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act.
Some exemptions apply. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records tied to open investigations, juvenile cases, and a few other categories may be withheld. In practice, routine adult booking data is available. The 30-minute update cycle on the Bibb County search tool means most recent bookings appear fairly quickly.
Booking photos are also addressed under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 bans commercial sites from posting mugshots and demanding payment to take them down. This does not stop the sheriff from releasing booking photos — it targets pay-to-remove schemes run by private websites.
Additional Search Tools Listed by Bibb County
The Bibb County Sheriff's website links to several other search tools beyond the local inmate roster. These include the GBI Sex Offender Registry, which is searchable statewide, and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles search, which lets you check supervision status for people on parole in Georgia.
For statewide criminal history, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center. You can reach the GBI at 404-244-2639. For people who have been convicted and transferred to state prison, use the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search.
Record Restriction in Macon-Bibb County
Georgia law gives some people the right to restrict their criminal records from public view. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 covers who qualifies — generally those who were not convicted, had charges dismissed, or completed sentences for certain crimes. People who went through the First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) may also petition for restriction once they finish their sentence.
Restriction limits what civilian background checks can show. It does not erase the record, and law enforcement can still access it. To start the process, contact the arresting agency and the GBI. Legal aid in the Macon area may be able to assist those who need help navigating the petition process.
VINE Inmate Tracking
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free notification service. You can sign up to get alerts when someone's custody status changes at the Bibb County LEC — such as when they are released, transferred, or escape.
Register online at VINELink.com or by calling 1-877-846-3592 at any time. VINE is available 24 hours a day. It sends alerts by phone, text, or email. The service is meant for victims and people with safety concerns, not for general booking data lookups.
Bibb County Booking Records
All Macon arrests are processed through Bibb County. The county page has more detail on the jail system, court records, and additional resources.