Harris County Arrest Records and Busted Mugshots

Harris County, Georgia sits in the western part of the state, just north of Columbus, and its Sheriff's Office in Hamilton handles all local bookings and arrest records. If you want to search Harris County busted mugshots or look up someone who was recently arrested, the sections below explain where to find public jail records, how state law limits online photo access, and which statewide databases can help fill in the gaps when local resources come up short.

Harris County Sheriff Booking Records and Inmate Search

The Harris County Sheriff's Office in Hamilton is the primary agency that books and holds people arrested in the county. When someone is arrested in Harris County, they are taken to the county jail where their booking information is entered into the system. That record includes name, charges, arresting agency, and custody status. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at the Harris County Courthouse in Hamilton. Call the jail to ask about a specific inmate or to confirm whether someone is currently in custody.

Harris County does not operate a full online inmate search portal of its own, which is common for smaller counties in Georgia. If you are trying to find Harris County busted mugshots or arrest data online, the statewide tools listed below are your best starting point. For real-time custody status or information on a recent booking, calling the Harris County Sheriff's Office directly is the fastest method. Staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and provide basic booking information over the phone.

Arrest records in Harris County are public documents under Georgia law. You can submit a formal open records request to the Sheriff's Office to get copies of booking records. The Georgia Open Records Act sets the rules for how agencies respond to those requests.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Bureau of Investigation homepage, a key statewide resource for criminal history and arrest data in Harris County.

The GBI maintains criminal history records for all Georgia counties, including Harris County, through the Georgia Crime Information Center.

Statewide Tools for Harris County Arrest Records

Several Georgia state databases give access to arrest and criminal history data that covers Harris County. The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), operated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, holds criminal history records for people arrested anywhere in the state. A formal request to GCIC can pull up a person's Georgia rap sheet, which includes prior arrests and charges from Harris County and beyond.

The Georgia Felon Search, available at georgia.gov, charges $15 and gives instant results for felony conviction records statewide. It is a quick way to check whether someone has a felony conviction tied to Harris County or any other county. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free and shows photos for people serving state prison sentences. Someone held in the Harris County Jail on a local charge may not appear there, but if they previously served time in state prison after a Harris County conviction, the GDC database may have a record.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Felon Search service, which lets you run a statewide felony conviction check for $15.

This statewide tool covers Harris County and every other Georgia county, making it useful when local jail records are limited.

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry, also run by the GBI, is free and searchable by name or location. It includes photos and is relevant for anyone checking registrant information in Harris County. The GBI also processes formal open records requests through its online portal for records held at the state level.

Georgia Law on Busted Mugshots and Booking Photos

Georgia has two key laws that shape how busted mugshots and booking photos are handled in Harris County. The first is O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, passed in 2014, which bars law enforcement agencies from posting booking photos online. This is why the Harris County Sheriff's Office does not display mugshots on its website. It does not mean the photos are secret. They are still public records, but you have to request them through a formal open records process rather than looking them up in an online gallery.

The second law covers third-party mugshot websites. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, mugshot companies must remove photos for free within 30 days when the person submits a proper written request and the arrest qualifies for restriction. The request must be sent by certified mail. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division has step-by-step guidance on how to use this law if a Harris County booking photo appears on a commercial mugshot site.

The Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, sets the rules for public records access in Harris County. Agencies must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time and the first 20 pages are free. Pages beyond that cost $0.10 each. These rules apply to any open records request you send to the Harris County Sheriff's Office or any other county agency.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Consumer Protection Division page on mugshot website removal, which explains your rights under state law.

Georgia law gives residents a path to free removal of booking photos from commercial mugshot websites within 30 days of a qualified request.

Harris County GDC Offender Records and Sex Offender Registry

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is useful for finding people who have served or are currently serving state prison sentences after a Harris County arrest. The database is free to search and displays photos automatically, making it one of the few official Georgia tools where you can see booking photos without a formal records request. Search at services.gdc.ga.gov by name to check whether someone has a GDC record tied to Harris County.

The screenshot below shows the GDC offender query database, a free statewide tool that includes photos for people in Georgia state prison.

The GDC database covers state prison inmates, not county jail detainees. Use the Harris County Sheriff's Office for recent local bookings.

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry shows current registrant status, photo, address, and offense information for registered offenders in Harris County. It is maintained by the GBI and updated regularly. If you want to check whether someone in Harris County is a registered sex offender, the registry is the right tool. It is searchable by name, county, or zip code at no cost.

How to Submit an Open Records Request in Harris County

To get a certified copy of a Harris County arrest record or booking photo, you need to submit an open records request in writing. Address your request to the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Hamilton. Include the full name of the person whose records you want, the approximate date of arrest if you know it, and a description of the specific records you are looking for. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, the agency must respond within three business days.

If the records you need are held at the state level, for example, if a person's case moved to the Georgia Department of Corrections, use the GBI's online open records request portal instead. That system handles requests for GBI records, GCIC records, and some records from other state agencies. Processing times and fees vary depending on what you request and how much staff time is needed to pull the records.

For most people trying to find Harris County busted mugshots or arrest records, the statewide databases above will answer basic questions without a formal request. The open records process is best when you need certified copies, complete booking files, or records not available through the public online tools.

Cities in Harris County

No city in Harris County currently meets the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated busted mugshots page. For arrest records in Hamilton, contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office directly.

Nearby Counties

Harris County borders several other counties in west-central Georgia. Each has its own arrest record resources and inmate search tools.