Search Berrien County Inmate Roster
Berrien County booking reports are public records created by the Sheriff's Office in Nashville, Georgia each time someone is booked into the county jail. These records include the person's name, the charges filed against them, and the booking date. Anyone can search these records to check on a current inmate, look up a recent arrest, or review booking history for a specific person. The Berrien County Sheriff's Office is the main source for local jail and arrest data in this county.
Berrien County Quick Facts
How to Get Berrien County Booking Records
Berrien County's jail records are kept at the Sheriff's Office in Nashville, Georgia. The county seat is not to be confused with the Tennessee city of the same name. The local docket is open for inspection during business hours. Walk in, ask for the booking records, and staff will pull what you need. You do not have to give a reason for your request or show any special authorization.
Written requests work for copies or for people who can't visit in person. Under Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), the sheriff's office must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time comes at no charge. After that, fees may apply for staff time. Mail and email requests are both valid. Denied requests must come with a written explanation citing the specific exemption used.
What You Find in a Berrien County Booking Report
Each booking record in Berrien County must meet the standards set by O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7. The required data includes the person's full name, age, sex, race, the charges filed, and the booking and release dates. These fields are mandatory for every person who enters the jail. They apply to people held for one hour as well as those waiting months for trial.
Booking records may go beyond the minimum. They often show the arresting agency, whether the person posted bail, any holds from outside agencies, and transfer details if the person was moved. Mugshots may be on file, but Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 prevents Berrien County or any Georgia law enforcement agency from sharing booking photos with commercial mugshot websites. This protects people from private companies that charge fees to take down photos.
Note: A booking report records an arrest. It does not establish guilt. Many people listed in the Berrien County Jail records are awaiting their first court date and have not been convicted.
Georgia Department of Corrections and State Inmates
Berrien County's local jail and Georgia's state prison system are separate. Once someone is convicted and transferred to a state facility, they are no longer in county custody. Their records move to the Georgia Department of Corrections and will not appear in the Berrien County jail roster.
Use the GDC offender search tool for anyone in a Georgia state prison. The direct query form allows name and ID number searches. For a certified written record, mail your request to Inmate Records and Information, PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. Do not contact the Berrien County Sheriff for state prison information. These are completely separate systems.
Georgia Department of Corrections offender search tool
The GDC tool covers state prison records. Berrien County jail records are held separately at the county sheriff's office in Nashville.
GBI GCIC Criminal History Database
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs GCIC, a statewide criminal history database that covers all 159 Georgia counties. GCIC includes arrest data, court dispositions, and sentencing records from agencies across the state. It is far more comprehensive than a single county's booking docket. If you need a complete record on someone, GCIC is the tool to use.
GCIC access is by appointment only at the GBI office. The address is 3121 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034. Phone: 404-244-2639. Walk-ins are not allowed. Read the GBI FAQ before your appointment to understand what to bring. The GCIC page has general background on the program and how it works.
VINE Alerts and Open Records in Berrien County
VINE, the free inmate notification service, covers Berrien County. Register at VINELink.com and choose your preferred contact method. The service monitors jail records around the clock and sends alerts when an inmate's status changes, whether by release, transfer, or any other change in custody. No manual checking is required once you register.
Georgia's Open Records Act gives you strong access rights to Berrien County booking data. The law treats everyone equally. You do not have to live in Berrien County to request records. Any person, anywhere, can submit a valid Open Records request to the sheriff's office in Nashville. The agency must respond within three business days and can only deny access under specific exemptions. Most routine booking data is fully available without issue.
For court records showing what happened after a Berrien County arrest, visit the Georgia Courts website. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association also publishes monthly data on statewide jail populations. As of January 2026, Georgia county jails statewide held 25,487 inmates, and roughly 67.9% were awaiting trial rather than serving a sentence. That ratio likely applies to Berrien County as well.
Nearby Counties
Berrien County shares borders with several south Georgia counties. Each maintains its own booking and jail records.