Booking Reports in Webster County, Georgia
Webster County booking reports are public records held by the Webster County Sheriff's Office in Preston, Georgia. Webster is the smallest county by population in Georgia, and its jail handles a very limited number of bookings compared to larger counties. There is no online inmate roster. To search for someone who was booked in Webster County, you will need to contact the sheriff's office directly or submit a written Open Records request. This page explains how that process works and which state tools offer broader search options when local records are limited.
Webster County Quick Facts
Webster County Jail and Booking Process
Webster County is Georgia's smallest county by population. With roughly 2,500 residents, it sees far fewer arrests and bookings than most other counties in the state. The Webster County Sheriff's Office in Preston handles all law enforcement and jail operations. Because of the county's small size, the sheriff's office operates with limited staff and does not maintain an online booking portal.
To check on a booking in Webster County, call the sheriff's office directly. Staff can often confirm whether someone is in custody and provide basic information over the phone. For documentation, submit a written Open Records request under Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). The sheriff must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time is free. Any time beyond that may carry a small per-hour fee set by state law. Mail or hand-deliver your request to the sheriff's office in Preston, Georgia.
Note: Webster County sometimes contracts with neighboring counties for jail services when local capacity is limited. If you cannot locate someone in Webster County custody, ask whether they may have been transferred to a nearby facility.
What Webster County Booking Records Contain
A booking record created at the Webster County Jail follows the requirements set out in O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7. That law tells the sheriff what to record for every person taken into custody. At minimum, the record must include the person's full name, age, sex, race, the charges, and the date and time of booking and any release from custody.
Beyond those required fields, Webster County booking records may also list the arresting agency, bond status, and a case number. Most bookings in Webster County come from the sheriff's own deputies, though Georgia State Patrol may also bring arrestees to the county jail. Booking photos, or mugshots, are typically part of the file. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, Georgia law bars law enforcement agencies from sharing those photos with commercial mugshot websites. That restriction applies in Webster County just as it does everywhere else in the state.
Statewide Search Tools for Webster County Records
Given the limited local access in Webster County, state-level tools are especially useful here. The Georgia Department of Corrections maintains a searchable database of all state-sentenced inmates. If someone was booked in Webster County, convicted in Superior Court, and then transferred to a state prison, they will no longer be in county records. Use the GDC offender query form to search by name. You can also start at the GDC offender information page for a broader overview.
For full criminal history, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's GCIC program covers statewide arrest and court records. Webster County data is part of that statewide system. Access to your own GCIC record requires a scheduled in-person appointment at the GBI office. Call 404-244-2639 to set one up. The GBI has published an FAQ on criminal history records that answers common questions about the process.
GDC offender query form for searching Georgia state prison inmate records
People convicted in Webster County who were sent to state prison can be found using the GDC offender query form, separate from local jail records.
VINE Notification and Open Records in Webster County
VINE is a free service that covers all 159 Georgia counties, including Webster County. Once you sign up at VINELink.com, VINE monitors the inmate you specify and alerts you when their custody status changes. Alerts go out by phone, text, or email, depending on your preference. The service runs around the clock and does not charge a fee.
For Webster County, where no online roster exists, VINE fills a real gap. You do not need to call the jail every day to check on someone's status. Register once and let VINE do the monitoring. It is used by family members and attorneys throughout Georgia for exactly this reason.
The Open Records Act gives you the right to request booking data from the Webster County Sheriff. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, the sheriff must provide public records unless a narrow exemption applies. Standard booking records, name, charges, and date, do not fall into an exempt category under normal conditions. Put your request in writing, include the person's name and approximate booking date, and submit it to the Webster County Sheriff's Office in Preston.
GBI Georgia Crime Information Center for statewide criminal history including Webster County
The GCIC database maintained by the GBI covers arrest and court records from all counties in Georgia, including Webster County and the surrounding southwest region.
Record Restrictions and the First Offender Act
Not every booking in Webster County leads to a conviction or a permanent public record. Georgia law provides two main paths to restrict a criminal record. First, under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, a person whose charges were dismissed or not prosecuted may petition to restrict that arrest from their criminal history report. If granted, the arrest will not appear in standard GCIC searches, though the original booking log at the jail still exists.
Second, under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, people who completed probation under the First Offender Act may have their conviction record sealed in the GCIC system. First Offender status is granted by the court at sentencing, not applied after the fact. Both types of restriction affect what shows up in GCIC, not what was originally logged in the county jail booking record. The booking event itself is generally a permanent part of the public record. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association provides reporting on statewide jail trends that offers useful context for how county systems like Webster County's fit into the larger picture.
Nearby Counties
Webster County is a small county in southwest Georgia. Its neighboring counties each maintain separate jail and booking record systems.