Columbia County Arrest Records and Booking Reports
Columbia County booking reports are managed by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and cover all arrests processed at the county detention center in Appling. The sheriff's office has ended its online inmate list and now requires visitors or callers to contact the Detention Center directly for current inmate information. This page explains how to search for Columbia County jail records, what resources are available, and how state-level tools can supplement local searches.
Columbia County Quick Facts
Columbia County Detention Center Inmate Inquiry
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office previously offered an online inmate inquiry tool, but that service has been discontinued. The official website now states: "A list of inmates currently in custody at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office is no longer available on this website." To get current inmate information, you must contact the detention facility directly.
The Columbia County Detention Center is located at 2273 County Camp Rd, Appling, GA 30802. The phone number for inmate inquiries is 706-541-0754. Staff can confirm whether a specific person is in custody, what charges they face, and bond status. Call during normal business hours for the best chance of reaching classification staff who can assist with detailed inquiries.
The main sheriff's office website at columbiacountyso.org remains active for other services. You can find contact information, news releases, and department resources there even though the inmate search function has been removed. For the most current booking information, the phone is your best tool.
Note: Online inmate list is no longer available — you must visit or call the Detention Center at 2273 County Camp Rd, Appling, GA 30802 or 706-541-0754 for any inquiries about current inmates.
Grovetown Inmate Inquiry Option
If you are searching for someone who may have been arrested in Grovetown, the city within Columbia County maintains a separate inmate inquiry resource. The City of Grovetown provides an online inmate inquiry at cityofgrovetown.com/172/Inmate-Inquiry with a contact phone of 706-541-1042. This may cover arrests handled by Grovetown city authorities rather than the county sheriff.
Grovetown is one of the larger communities in Columbia County, and it operates its own police department. If you are unsure which agency made an arrest, checking both the county detention center and the Grovetown resource is a reasonable approach. Arrests by the county sheriff go to the county facility; city arrests may be held or processed differently depending on the situation and facility availability.
Open Records Requests for Columbia County Booking Records
Even though the online inmate list is no longer available, booking records remain public documents under Georgia law. You can submit a formal Open Records Act request to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office to obtain written records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., the agency must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff search time is free. Additional time and copying costs may apply for larger requests.
Exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 may limit access to records tied to active investigations or involving juveniles. If a request is denied, ask for a written explanation citing the specific statute. Booking photos are generally available as public records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, Georgia limits some commercial uses of mugshots but does not make them entirely off-limits for public records purposes.
Keep in mind that an arrest documented in a booking record does not indicate guilt. O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7 requires the sheriff to maintain these records as a matter of public accountability, not as proof of wrongdoing by the person named.
GBI Statewide Records for Columbia County
The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) holds statewide criminal history records that include data from Columbia County. GCIC is useful when you need records covering more than one county or want a comprehensive criminal history report. Contact GCIC at 404-244-2639 or visit their office at 3121 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034.
Search the Georgia Department of Corrections offender database to find state inmates who may have originated from Columbia County cases.
The GDC offender search covers people sentenced to state facilities, which is separate from those held at the Columbia County Detention Center in Appling.
For people convicted in Columbia County court and transferred to state prison, the GDC database is the right search tool. County jail records and state prison records are separate systems. If someone is no longer in county custody and you suspect a state sentence, check the GDC search. For written verification, write to Inmate Records and Information, PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.
VINE and Court Records in Columbia County
Columbia County participates in the VINE victim notification system. Even without an online inmate roster, VINE provides automated alerts about custody status changes at the detention center. If you register with VINE for a specific inmate, you'll receive an alert when they're released, transferred, or have a change in status. Registration is free and available on the VINE website at any time.
For court records tied to Columbia County bookings, search through Georgia Courts online. The Columbia County Superior Court clerk handles criminal case filings and can provide case status information. Court records show what happened after the booking: charges filed, hearings held, pleas, and verdicts. Booking data and court data together give you the complete legal picture of any case.
If someone's case was resolved and they believe their record should be restricted, Georgia law provides options under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 and the First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60). These processes require working through the courts and GBI, and legal advice is recommended. The GBI GCIC FAQ has background information on how Georgia criminal records work and how to navigate the correction or restriction process.
Cities in Columbia County
Columbia County serves the Augusta metro area and includes several large communities. The following cities have dedicated booking report pages:
Nearby Counties
Columbia County is in the Central Savannah River Area near Augusta. These neighboring counties have booking report pages: