Savannah Busted Mugshots and Arrest Records

Savannah busted mugshots and arrest records are processed through the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, which operates the jail that receives defendants arrested by the Savannah Police Department. The Chatham County Sheriff maintains a public inmate search at chathamsheriff.com/inmateSearch where anyone can look up current inmates by name to find booking dates, charges, and custody status tied to Savannah and Chatham County arrests.

Savannah Arrest Booking and Chatham County Jail

When Savannah Police Department officers make an arrest in the city, they transport defendants to the Chatham County Detention Center for booking. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office runs this facility and handles intake for all arrests in the county, including those made by Savannah Police. After booking, which includes fingerprinting, recording charges, and photographing the defendant, the arrest record enters the county's database.

Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County and the largest city in the county by a wide margin. The jail handles a high volume of bookings given the city's size and its role as a major port city with a significant tourism sector. Weekend bookings tend to run higher than weekday numbers. If you are searching for someone arrested in Savannah and can't find them in the database right away, it is worth checking back a few hours later since records sometimes take time to appear in the public-facing search tool after the booking is complete.

The Savannah Police Department headquarters is at 201 Habersham Street, Savannah GA 31401. The non-emergency line is 912-651-6675. SPD handles city arrests across all Savannah districts and beats. For specific arrest details, the Chatham County inmate search is the place to start.

Savannah Busted Mugshots - Chatham County Inmate Search

The Chatham County Sheriff's inmate search at chathamsheriff.com/inmateSearch is free and requires no account. Search by first name, last name, or both. Results display the defendant's name, booking date, arrest charges, bond amount, and current custody status. This is the primary resource for finding Savannah busted mugshots and arrest records in the county system. The database is updated as new bookings are processed each day.

For older Savannah arrest records or certified copies, a formal open records request to the Chatham County Sheriff's Office is required. Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public the right to request these records. Agencies must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff time and the first 20 pages are free. If you are seeking a specific booking photo, identify the defendant's name, booking date, and case number in your written request. Booking photos are public records but must be requested formally since Georgia law bars agencies from posting them on their websites under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia GBI open records portal, a statewide tool that supplements local Chatham County records for Savannah arrest research.

The GBI operates GCIC and handles statewide open records requests that cover Savannah arrests reported to the state criminal history system.

Georgia Law on Savannah Booking Photos and Mugshot Removal

Georgia law bars law enforcement agencies from putting booking photos on their websites. That rule comes from O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, passed in 2014. It is why the Chatham County inmate search shows arrest data without photos. The policy applies to government websites only. Private third-party sites that collect and post Savannah busted mugshots operate under a separate law.

If a Savannah arrest photo appears on a third-party mugshot site, O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 gives you a path to removal. Mugshot companies in Georgia must remove photos within 30 days of a written request by certified mail, at no charge to the person requesting removal, as long as the arrest qualifies under the statute. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division outlines what qualifies and how to write the letter. Arrests that were expunged or restricted generally qualify more easily. Active cases are more complicated.

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 covers all Savannah arrest records held by the Chatham County Sheriff or Savannah Police Department. Written requests go to the relevant agency. Response is due within three business days. Copy fees are limited by the statute.

Statewide Resources for Savannah Arrest Records

Statewide tools available for Savannah arrest research include the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), operated by the GBI. GCIC holds criminal history records for the entire state, including Savannah arrests. The Georgia Felon Search is a $15 instant check on felony conviction records statewide, covering Chatham County courts. It is a fast option when you want to know if someone convicted in a Savannah case has a felony record.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender query is free and displays photos for state prison inmates. People sentenced to prison after a Savannah conviction appear here. Those currently in the Chatham County Detention Center do not. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is free, searchable by name or address, and includes photos. The GBI's open records portal handles formal data requests at the state level for records the Chatham County Sheriff's Office may not have locally.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia statute 35-1-19 reference page, which governs how booking photos are handled for Savannah and all Georgia arrests.

This law prohibits Georgia law enforcement from posting booking photos online, which is why Savannah busted mugshots are not visible in the Chatham County inmate portal.

Nearby Cities

Pooler is a nearby city in Chatham County with its own arrest record information.

Chatham County Resources

Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County. The county page has additional detail on the jail system and arrest record access.