Toombs County Jail Records and Booking Reports

Toombs County booking reports are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Lyons and are public records under Georgia's Open Records Act. These records document each person booked into the Toombs County Jail, including the charges and the date of each arrest. Whether you want to confirm someone is in custody or look up a past booking in Toombs County, the sheriff's office in Lyons holds the records you need.

Accessing Toombs County Jail Booking Records

The Toombs County Sheriff's Office in Lyons is the main keeper of all local jail records. Every time someone is booked into the jail, staff enter the name, date of birth, charges, and the time of booking. This running log is the public jail docket. It is open for inspection at the sheriff's office during regular business hours. No appointment is needed to view the docket in person.

To get records sent to you, submit a written Open Records request to the Toombs County Sheriff's Office. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., Georgia agencies must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff search time is free. After that, a fee may apply. Mail and email requests are both accepted. Address them to the Open Records Officer at the Toombs County Sheriff's Office in Lyons.

A booking records an arrest. It is not a record of conviction or guilt.

What Toombs County Booking Records Include

State law governs what each Georgia county jail must document. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the Toombs County Sheriff is required to record each inmate's name, age, sex, race, charges, and the dates of booking and release. This applies to everyone held in the jail, even briefly. The docket is a continuous public log of all people processed through the Toombs County Jail.

Bond amounts, release or transfer information, and the arresting agency may also appear in the record. Booking photos may be included in some entries. Georgia law limits how these photos are used. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, law enforcement agencies cannot share booking images with commercial websites that charge to remove them. The Toombs County Sheriff's Office follows this state rule.

Georgia Department of Corrections and Toombs County

State prison inmates are tracked by the Georgia Department of Corrections, not the county sheriff. If someone has been convicted and sent to a state facility, they will not appear in Toombs County's local jail records. The two systems are separate and cover different populations. The county jail in Lyons holds people who are locally detained, while GDC handles those serving state sentences.

Search state prison records using the GDC offender search by name or GDC number. The GDC query form provides more filter choices. Certified state prison records can be requested by writing to Inmate Records and Information, PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. This does not involve the Toombs County Sheriff in any way.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association reported 25,487 county jail inmates statewide in January 2026, with 67.9% awaiting trial. Monthly data is at georgiasheriffs.org.

The GDC handles state prison records. For Toombs County Jail booking information, contact the sheriff's office in Lyons.

GBI GCIC Records and Toombs County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the Georgia Crime Information Center. GCIC is a statewide database holding criminal history records from all Georgia counties and agencies. It goes beyond a single county's jail docket. A GCIC search can show arrests, charges, and court dispositions from many counties and years, making it useful when you need a broader view of someone's record.

Contact the GBI GCIC office at 3121 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034. Call 404-244-2639 for scheduling. Appointments are required for all reviews. Read the GBI FAQ page to find out what to bring and how to book a time. This is completely separate from what the Toombs County Sheriff's Office provides locally.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some GCIC records are restricted. Charges that ended in dismissal or acquittal may be sealed from public view.

VINE Service and Open Records Rights in Toombs County

VINE — Victim Information and Notification Everyday — sends free automatic alerts when an inmate's status changes. If someone is released from the Toombs County Jail, transferred, or escapes, VINE notifies registered users right away by call, text, or email. There is no need to call the jail repeatedly to check status. Sign up at VINELink.com for free or register by phone. VINE works across all Georgia counties including Toombs County.

The Georgia Courts website is useful for tracking a case after a booking. Court records show hearing dates, charges formally filed, and outcomes in the court system.

Georgia's Open Records Act — O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 — makes jail booking logs public at the Toombs County Sheriff's Office in Lyons. Most records are available on request. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, limited exceptions allow records to be withheld in specific cases. Any denial must include a written explanation identifying the relevant exemption.

The GBI FAQ page answers common questions about obtaining criminal history records in Georgia, a process separate from local Toombs County jail record requests.

Nearby Counties

Booking records for surrounding areas are maintained by each county's sheriff. Use these links to search records near Toombs County.