Search Decatur County Busted Mugshots

Decatur County is a rural Southwest Georgia county with a population of about 26,404, centered on the city of Bainbridge along the Flint River. If you are searching for Decatur County busted mugshots, arrest records, or inmate booking information, the Decatur County Sheriff's Office is the main local source, and several statewide Georgia databases can supplement what the local jail provides.

Decatur County Sheriff Inmate Search and Arrest Records

The Decatur County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail in Bainbridge and processes all local bookings. The sheriff's office is located at 130 West Water Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817. You can reach them by phone at (229) 248-3020. For the most current inmate information, calling the jail directly is the fastest approach. Staff can confirm custody status, booking details, and basic charge information for anyone currently held in the Decatur County Jail.

Like most smaller Georgia counties, Decatur County does not run a publicly accessible online inmate roster. That means walk-in visits, phone calls, and formal written records requests are the main ways to get Decatur County arrest records and busted mugshots. The Decatur County Courthouse in Bainbridge handles Superior Court records for criminal cases that move beyond the initial booking stage. The Superior Court Clerk can provide case file information and certified court documents tied to Decatur County arrests.

Decatur County falls under the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, which covers several counties in the region. If a case involves charges filed in multiple counties, the circuit court handles those matters. For local misdemeanor arrests and initial appearances, the Decatur County State Court and Magistrate Court handle the early stages before cases reach the Superior Court level.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Bureau of Investigation homepage, which is the main state agency for criminal history records including Decatur County arrest data.

The GBI maintains statewide criminal history records through the GCIC division and handles open records requests for arrest data from all Georgia counties including Decatur.

Georgia Booking Photo Laws and Decatur County Mugshot Websites

Georgia passed O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 in 2014, which bans law enforcement agencies from posting booking photos online. The Decatur County Sheriff's Office follows this law. You can request inmate data by phone or in writing, but the county does not put mugshots on a public web page. Third-party sites that collect and publish Decatur County busted mugshots operate separately from the sheriff's office and get their data from other public sources.

If your photo appears on a mugshot website, Georgia law gives you a removal path. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, passed in 2013, mugshot companies must take down photos at no cost within 30 days when you send a certified mail request and the underlying arrest qualifies for record restriction. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division explains the process in detail and lists your rights under this law. This applies to Decatur County busted mugshots on covered websites.

For formal public records requests, the Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives agencies three business days to respond. The first 15 minutes of staff time is free, and the first 20 pages cost nothing. Pages beyond 20 cost $0.10 each. Submit your request in writing to the Decatur County Sheriff's Office or to the GBI for statewide criminal history data.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia statute page for O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, the 2014 law that restricts online posting of booking photos by law enforcement agencies.

This statute is why the Decatur County Sheriff does not post busted mugshots on its website, even though booking photos remain public records requestable through formal channels.

Statewide Databases for Decatur County Arrest Records

Several free Georgia tools supplement local Decatur County arrest record searches. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search shows photos and is free to use. It covers people in state prison, so if a Decatur County arrest led to a state sentence, the record may appear there. The search returns current facility, sentence details, and a photo for each result.

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is a free, searchable public tool run by the GBI. It shows photos and lets you search by name or location. For felony conviction records specifically, the Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and gives instant results for any felony conviction across the state. The Georgia Crime Information Center handles full criminal history requests for a broader look at a subject's record beyond just Decatur County.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Felon Search tool, which returns instant felony conviction results statewide for a $15 fee.

The Georgia Felon Search covers convictions from all counties including Decatur, making it a fast option when you need to verify a felony record statewide.

Submitting Open Records Requests for Decatur County Busted Mugshots

To get a certified copy of a Decatur County arrest record or booking photo, submit a written open records request to the Decatur County Sheriff's Office at 130 West Water Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and any booking number or arrest date you have. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, the agency must acknowledge your request within three business days and tell you the cost to fulfill it.

For statewide criminal history that includes Decatur County arrests and dispositions, use the GBI's online open records request portal. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles these requests and can provide certified records covering a person's arrest history across all Georgia counties. This is useful when you need a more complete picture than a single county jail record provides.

Cities in Decatur County

Bainbridge is the county seat and the largest city in Decatur County. No cities in Decatur County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Arrest records for Bainbridge and other Decatur County cities are handled through the Decatur County Sheriff's Office and the state resources listed on this page.

Nearby Counties

Decatur County borders several Southwest Georgia counties. Each has its own arrest record and inmate search resources.