Find McIntosh County 72 Hour Booking Records

McIntosh County 72 hour booking records are kept by the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office in Darien. If you need to look up a recent arrest or find out if someone is in custody at the county jail, call the sheriff's office or visit the facility on Highway 251.

McIntosh County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Thornell King leads the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office. The office is located at 12317 Hwy 251, Darien, GA 31305. Call 912-437-5870 to check on a booking, ask about charges, or get bond information. McIntosh County does not have an online inmate lookup, so calling the office is the primary way to get answers about who is in custody.

McIntosh County sits along the Georgia coast, south of Savannah and north of Brunswick. The county is small in population but covers a good amount of land and marsh. The county jail in Darien handles all bookings for the area. When someone is arrested by the sheriff's deputies or the Darien Police Department, they go to this facility for processing.

The booking process follows the same steps as any Georgia county. Staff records the person's name, takes a photo and fingerprints, and logs the charges. Bond is set at the first appearance hearing, which the magistrate judge handles. If you are trying to locate someone who was just picked up in McIntosh County, this is the one jail to check.

The front desk at the sheriff's office can help during business hours. The jail is staffed all day and night, so after-hours calls about custody status are possible too. Have the person's full name ready when you call.

Understanding the 72 Hour Rule in McIntosh County

Georgia law says a person arrested on a warrant must go before a judge within 72 hours. This comes from O.C.G.A. § 17-4-26. The magistrate court in McIntosh County schedules these first appearance hearings to stay within that window. At the hearing, the judge reads the charges and decides if bond will be set, and if so, how much.

Warrantless arrests have a 48 hour limit under O.C.G.A. § 17-4-62. This applies when an officer makes an arrest without going to a judge first, which is common for things like DUI stops, fights, or drug possession caught in the act. If the hearing does not happen within 48 hours, the person can ask to be let go. Both the 72 and 48 hour limits are enforced by the courts, and the sheriff's staff in McIntosh County keeps careful track of each timeline.

Coastal counties like McIntosh sometimes deal with arrests related to boating, fishing violations, and tourism. These bookings go through the same process and follow the same time rules as any other arrest. The type of charge does not change the timeline.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is a good resource if you think someone was convicted after a McIntosh County arrest and is now in state prison.

The GDC search covers all state prison inmates and shows their facility, sentence, and expected release date. It is free to use.

72 Hour Booking Public Access in McIntosh County

Booking records in Georgia are public under the Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 gives anyone the right to request arrest and booking data from the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office. You do not need a reason. The office must respond within three business days of receiving your written request.

To make a request, write down what you need. Include the person's full name, the approximate date of the arrest, and the type of record you are after. Bring it to the sheriff's office in Darien or send it by mail. A small copy fee may apply. For simple requests, the turnaround is usually quick. Older or more complex records may take longer.

Booking photos are covered by O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19. Georgia law blocks agencies from sharing booking photos with anyone who plans to post them on a site that charges money for removal. This targets mugshot extortion. Standard open records requests for booking photos are still fine as long as the use does not violate this rule.

If you need a full criminal history, not just a single booking record, you go through the Georgia Crime Information Center. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 outlines the process. Contact the GCIC at 404-244-2639 to learn how to submit a request.

Statewide Search Resources

Several state tools can help when your search goes beyond McIntosh County. The Georgia Crime Information Center runs criminal background checks for the entire state. Call 404-244-2639 for instructions on how to request one.

The VINE notification system tracks inmate custody changes across Georgia. If someone was booked in McIntosh County, you can sign up for VINE alerts to get notified by phone, text, or email when that person is released, transferred, or has a status change. VINE is free. Call 833-216-6670 or visit the website to register.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists every sheriff's office in the state with current contact info. This can help if you are not sure which county handled a booking, especially in the coastal region where McIntosh borders several other counties.

The GCIC page has detailed FAQ sections on who can request records, what fees apply, and how long the process takes. It is the central hub for criminal history data in Georgia.

72 Hour Booking Record Restriction in McIntosh County

Georgia allows certain records to be restricted from public view. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 and O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 lay out the conditions. If charges were dismissed, the person was found not guilty, or they completed a first offender sentence, they may qualify for record restriction.

A restricted record will not appear in standard background checks. Law enforcement still has access, but the public does not. So if you search for a McIntosh County booking and find nothing, it could mean the record has been restricted by court order rather than that no arrest was made.

To pursue restriction, file a petition with the Superior Court in McIntosh County. The process requires paperwork and a filing fee. In some cases, a hearing is needed. Legal aid groups in the coastal Georgia region can help if you cannot afford an attorney. The McIntosh County Clerk of Court in Darien can give you the current fees and the forms you need to get started.

Nearby Counties

These counties border McIntosh County along the Georgia coast and inland. If you are not sure which county processed a booking, check with the neighboring sheriff's offices. Arrests near county lines can end up in any of these jails.