Terrell County Busted Mugshots and Arrest Records

Terrell County is a rural county in southwest Georgia with its county seat in Dawson, and the Terrell County Sheriff's Office handles all local arrests and maintains busted mugshots, arrest reports, and jail booking records for the county. If you need to search Terrell County arrest records or find inmate data from a recent booking, this page covers both county-level and statewide Georgia resources open to the public.

Terrell County Sheriff Booking Records and Inmate Data

The Terrell County Sheriff's Office in Dawson is the primary custodian of Terrell County busted mugshots and jail booking records. The county jail processes bookings for arrests by the sheriff's department and other agencies operating within the county. Terrell County does not maintain a public online inmate search portal, so direct contact with the sheriff's office or use of statewide Georgia databases are the most reliable ways to access current booking data.

To request a Terrell County arrest report or booking photo, submit a written open records request to the Terrell County Sheriff's Office in Dawson. Include the subject's full name, the approximate arrest date, and any booking number or case number you have. The Georgia Open Records Act requires the agency to respond within three business days. Copying fees apply for pages beyond the first 20 at $0.10 per page.

Terrell County is part of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, which serves multiple southwest Georgia counties. When a Terrell County case moves to the superior court level, some records may transfer to the circuit court clerk. For cases that have gone through multiple stages, check with both the sheriff's office and the Southwestern Circuit superior court clerk in Dawson to get a complete set of available records.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Crime Information Center, the state hub for criminal history data that covers all Georgia counties including Terrell.

GCIC provides comprehensive criminal history data for all 159 Georgia counties, including arrests, charges, and dispositions tied to Terrell County.

Georgia Law on Booking Photos and Mugshot Websites

Georgia law shapes how Terrell County busted mugshots are published and accessed. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, passed in 2014, law enforcement agencies in Georgia cannot post booking photos online. This restriction applies to the Terrell County Sheriff's Office. Booking photos are public records that you can get through a written request, but the county cannot display them on any public website under this law.

Third-party mugshot websites sometimes post Terrell County arrest photos independently of the county. If your photo appears on one of these sites, Georgia law offers a removal path. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, mugshot companies must remove photos within 30 days at no charge when the arrest qualifies for record restriction. Send the request by certified mail. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division provides guidance on which sites are covered and how to submit a removal request.

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 sets standards for public records access statewide. Agencies must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff time and first 20 pages are free. Pages beyond 20 cost $0.10 each. These rules govern Terrell County open records requests for arrest files and booking photos.

Statewide Georgia Resources for Terrell County Arrest Records

When county-level access to Terrell County arrest records is limited, statewide Georgia tools are a strong alternative. The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, maintains criminal history data for all Georgia counties. GCIC requests cover arrests, charges, and final dispositions and are among the most comprehensive statewide sources for Terrell County records.

The Georgia Felon Search at georgia.gov charges $15 and gives instant felony conviction results for any Georgia county. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free and includes photos for people in state prison. Someone currently in the Terrell County Jail won't show in GDC yet, but prior state sentences tied to Terrell County convictions may be there. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name or address for all Georgia counties.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Felon Search service, which provides instant felony conviction data for Terrell County and all other Georgia counties.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and returns instant felony conviction results for any Georgia county including Terrell.

Terrell County Open Records Requests and Booking Data

Getting a certified Terrell County arrest record or booking photo requires a formal written open records request to the sheriff's office in Dawson. Include the subject's name, approximate arrest date, and any case number. The office must respond within three business days. For GBI-held records, use the GBI online records portal. The GBI portal can also identify the correct agency when you are uncertain who holds a specific Terrell County record.

Booking photos from the Terrell County Jail are public records. The 2014 law bars online posting by the county, but individuals can still receive copies through the formal records process. For third-party mugshot site removals, the certified mail process under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 is the right legal route. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division guidance covers everything you need to submit an effective removal request.

The screenshot below shows the GBI open records request portal, used for formal statewide records submissions for Georgia arrest and booking data including Terrell County.

The GBI portal accepts statewide records requests and can route you to the correct agency when local Terrell County records are what you need.

Cities in Terrell County

Dawson is the county seat of Terrell County. No cities in Terrell County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Use the county-level and statewide resources on this page to search for arrest records and busted mugshots tied to any address in Terrell County.

Nearby Counties

Terrell County borders several counties in southwest Georgia. Each has its own arrest record and inmate search resources.