Access Candler County 72 Hour Booking Records

Candler County 72 hour booking records are kept at the sheriff's office in Metter. This small county in east-central Georgia does not offer online inmate search, so call the jail or stop by in person to get booking info.

Candler County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff John Miles heads the Candler County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 693, Metter, GA 30439. The phone number is 912-685-2568. This is the line to call for booking and jail questions. Staff can check the system and tell you if someone is in the Candler County jail, along with the charges and bond status.

Candler County is a small rural county. The jail does not hold many inmates at one time. Bookings here are fewer than in larger counties, but the same state laws and procedures apply. Every arrest in Candler County goes through the jail in Metter. That includes arrests by the sheriff's deputies, Metter city police, and any state law enforcement working in the area.

No online search tool exists for the Candler County jail. Call the office to get info. The dispatch line at 912-685-2568 is available 24 hours a day. After hours, dispatchers can confirm if someone is in custody. For complete booking details, call during regular business hours when the jail staff is available. They can give you the full picture: charges, bond, court date, and arresting agency.

If you want to visit in person, the office in Metter is open during business hours. Bring a photo ID. Staff at the front desk can look up records and answer your questions face to face. New bookings may not be fully entered yet if the arrest was very recent. Give it a few hours for the data to be complete in the system.

How 72 Hour Booking Works in Candler County

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 17-4-26 requires that a person arrested on a warrant see a judge within 72 hours. The first appearance hearing is where the judge reads the charges and decides on bond. The 72 hour clock starts when the arrest happens, not when the person arrives at the Candler County jail.

Warrantless arrests have a 48 hour limit. O.C.G.A. § 17-4-62 covers this. When an officer makes an arrest without a warrant, the accused must have a hearing within 48 hours. This applies to on-the-scene arrests for things like DUI, assault, drug possession, and similar charges. The shorter window means the court must schedule a hearing quickly.

Candler County is in the Middle Judicial Circuit. Judges from that circuit cover multiple counties, including Candler. First appearance hearings may happen on set days rather than daily. The court stays within the 72 and 48 hour deadlines. Weekend arrests can push the schedule, but the law is firm on the time limits. If the deadline passes, the arrested person can ask to be let go.

Bond is set at the first appearance. The judge can order cash bond, surety bond through a bail agent, or release on own recognizance. Certain charges come with a bond schedule that lets the person pay before the hearing. Ask the Candler County jail staff about bond when you call. They can tell you the amount and how to pay.

Candler County Public 72 Hour Booking Records

O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 is Georgia's Open Records Act. It gives anyone the right to request government records, and booking records are included. You do not need a reason to ask. The Candler County Sheriff's Office must respond within three business days. A denial must be in writing with a legal basis cited.

To make a request, send a letter to PO Box 693, Metter, GA 30439. Put the person's full name and the arrest date in your request. You can also hand the request to staff at the office. Ask first about whether email requests are accepted. Paper copies have a per-page fee. If the search takes the staff more than 15 minutes, they can bill for time as well.

Booking photos are governed by O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19. This law blocks agencies from giving booking photos to people who will post them on websites or in publications that charge for removal. The statute was made to combat mugshot exploitation sites. Personal requests for booking photos are still possible. The Candler County Sheriff's Office decides each one on its own merits.

In a county this size, records requests tend to be handled quickly. There is less backlog than in bigger offices, so you should hear back soon after filing.

State Search Resources

If someone is no longer in the Candler County jail, statewide tools can help you locate them. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows anyone serving time in a Georgia state prison. If a Candler County booking ended with a prison sentence, the person will appear in this database with their facility and release info.

The Georgia Department of Corrections search lets you find inmates who have been moved from county jails to state prison facilities.

The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) at the GBI handles statewide background checks. Call 404-244-2639. A GCIC check costs a fee and shows a person's full criminal record across all Georgia counties. This goes beyond the 72 hour booking record and includes prior arrests, convictions, and sentences statewide.

VINE is a free notification service. Sign up and get a call, text, or email when an inmate is released, moved, or has a court date. VINE works for Candler County. Call 833-216-6670 for assistance. This tool keeps you informed without having to call the jail over and over.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association website has a list of every sheriff in the state with contact details. If you need to search beyond Candler County, use this directory to find the right office quickly.

These resources cover everything from the initial Candler County booking to long-term tracking through the state corrections system.

72 Hour Booking Record Restriction in Candler County

O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows Georgians to apply for record restriction. If your Candler County charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted, you may qualify. A restricted record does not appear on standard background checks. It is still in the system for law enforcement use, but hidden from most public searches.

O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, the First Offender Act, is another option. If you were sentenced as a first offender in Candler County and completed the sentence, the conviction can be restricted. It will not show on a regular background check after that. You have to apply through the court in the Middle Judicial Circuit. A lawyer can guide you through the process and improve your chances.

Restriction does not erase the record. It limits access to it. If you think you qualify based on a Candler County case, talk to the clerk of court in Metter or reach out to an attorney. Starting the process sooner means it gets done sooner, and the outcome can make a real difference for your future.

Nearby Counties

Candler County is surrounded by several counties in southeast Georgia. An arrest near the county border could be processed in a neighboring county jail. Check the arresting agency listed on the booking record to be sure.