Quitman County Booking Reports

Quitman County booking reports are public records created by the Quitman County Sheriff's Office in Georgetown, Georgia. These records document each arrest processed at the county jail, including the charges, booking time, and the person's identifying details. Georgia's Open Records Act makes this data available to the public. Residents can contact the sheriff's office directly to request current or historical booking information for Quitman County.

Who Keeps Booking Records in Quitman County

The Quitman County Sheriff's Office is the legal custodian of all jail and booking records for the county. Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7 assigns jail management and record-keeping to the sheriff. Quitman County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia by population, and the sheriff's office handles most law enforcement in the area. The Georgia State Patrol also operates in the county and may bring bookings to the county facility.

Quitman County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit in southwest Georgia. Because the county is very small, the jail population at any given time is typically low. But the same rules apply as in larger counties. The booking docket is a public record, and anyone can request access to it under Georgia law.

Note: Quitman County should not be confused with the city of Quitman, which is the seat of Brooks County in a different part of Georgia. Georgetown is Quitman County's county seat.

Requesting Booking Records

The Quitman County Sheriff's Office in Georgetown is where to start for booking records. A phone call can confirm whether a specific person is currently in custody. For written copies or historical records, a formal Open Records Act request is the right approach. Identify the records you want as specifically as you can, including names and approximate dates of arrest if you have them.

Georgia's Open Records Act requires a response within three business days of a valid request. The first 15 minutes of staff search time is free. Fees for additional staff time and copying may apply. You do not have to explain why you want the records.

Third-party services like VINE may include Quitman County in their inmate database. VINE allows you to search current inmates by name and register for status alerts. Given Quitman County's small size, the jail roster may not always appear in third-party systems, so direct contact with the sheriff's office is often the most reliable route for this county.

What Booking Reports Contain

A Quitman County booking record shows the person's full legal name, date of birth, home address, the date and time of booking, charges at intake, the arresting agency, and bond information. Mugshots taken at booking are part of the public record. Georgia's rules on how agencies can share booking photos are found at O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19.

Some records include additional details like holds from outside agencies, court dates, and housing assignments. If another jurisdiction has placed a warrant hold on the inmate, that information appears in the file. Records reflect the state of things at the time of booking, so conditions may change as the case moves forward. Contacting the jail directly gives you the most current picture.

Open Records Law and Public Booking Access

Georgia's Open Records Act applies to Quitman County just as it does to every other Georgia county. Booking records for adults are public. The exemptions at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 cover narrow categories such as active investigation files and victim personal information, but not the basic fact of an arrest or the core booking data. The sheriff's office cannot withhold booking records without a specific legal basis.

For a county as small as Quitman, the sheriff's office is likely to be very accessible. Most small county jails can answer basic inmate questions directly over the phone without needing a formal written request. Still, knowing your rights under the Open Records Act is useful if you encounter any resistance.

State Resources and Criminal History

For a broader criminal history search that covers more than Quitman County, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Information Center maintains statewide arrest and disposition data. GCIC aggregates records from all Georgia law enforcement agencies, including the Quitman County Sheriff's Office. The GBI can be reached at 404-244-2639 for questions about how to access records through the center.

If the person you are searching for has been transferred to a Georgia state prison rather than remaining at the county jail, use the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search to find their current location.

Anyone who has moved from the Quitman County Jail into the state prison system will show up in the GDC offender search rather than the county jail roster. Cases that are still in the local court system can be tracked through the Georgia Courts website.

Record Restriction in Quitman County

Georgia law provides options for restricting certain old arrest records from public view. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows a person to petition a court to restrict their record if charges were dropped, they were acquitted, or other qualifying conditions apply. The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 is another path for eligible first-time offenders who complete their sentence without violations.

Both options require a court order from Quitman County Superior Court in Georgetown. Once granted, the record should no longer appear in public searches. Third-party data services may lag in updating their records, and legal help may be needed to address any that continue to show restricted information. The sheriff's office has no authority to restrict records on its own.

Note: Quitman County's small size means the courthouse and sheriff's office are accessible. Court clerks can often answer basic procedural questions about how the restriction process works locally.

Nearby Counties

Quitman County is in southwest Georgia, near the Alabama border and several other small counties.