Randolph County 72 Hour Booking Records

Randolph County 72 hour booking records are handled by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office in Cuthbert. This rural southwest Georgia county has no online inmate lookup tool, so all booking inquiries go through the sheriff's office by phone or visit.

Randolph County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Eddie Fairbanks runs the Randolph County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 506, Cuthbert, GA 39840. Call 229-732-2525 for booking and arrest questions. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody, what charges they face, and whether bond has been set. This is the main line for all jail inquiries in Randolph County.

Randolph County sits in the rural southwestern part of the state. The county seat of Cuthbert is a small town, and the overall pace of law enforcement here is slower than in metro areas. That said, the sheriff's office still handles a steady flow of arrests throughout the year. All arrests in the county, no matter where they occur, are processed at the Randolph County jail. Deputies patrol the whole county, and Cuthbert police handle calls within city limits, but all bookings go to the same place.

You cannot search for Randolph County inmates online. The only way to check on a booking is by phone or by visiting the office in Cuthbert. During business hours, staff can answer questions. After hours, dispatch is available and can provide basic details about who is currently in the jail. If you need a formal copy of the booking record or arrest report, go to the office during regular hours and ask.

How 72 Hour Booking Works in Randolph County

Georgia law puts strict time caps on how long a person can sit in jail before a judge gets involved. Under O.C.G.A. § 17-4-26, when someone is arrested on a warrant, they must appear before a judicial officer within 72 hours. This is the source of the phrase "72 hour booking." The timer starts from the arrest itself, not the arrival at the Randolph County jail.

Warrantless arrests have an even shorter window. O.C.G.A. § 17-4-62 requires a probable cause hearing within 48 hours. In Randolph County, these tend to come from traffic stops, DUI arrests, or incidents where deputies respond and make an on-the-spot arrest. The 48 hour rule puts pressure on the court to act fast, though in a county this size the magistrate can usually schedule a hearing without much delay.

Contact details for every Georgia sheriff are listed through the Georgia Sheriffs' Association:

This directory is a quick way to confirm the current sheriff and contact number for Randolph County.

First appearances take place at the courthouse in Cuthbert. The magistrate judge reads the charges and sets a bond. Weekend arrests can push the hearing to Monday, which sometimes comes close to the 72 hour limit. If the deadline passes without a hearing, the person has the right to ask for release, but in practice the Randolph County court stays within the time limit for the vast majority of cases. The small caseload helps keep things moving.

72 Hour Booking Public Access in Randolph County

Booking records in Randolph County are public under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, the Georgia Open Records Act, gives any person the right to request government records. This includes arrest reports, booking data, charge lists, and bond details. No reason is needed for the request. The agency has three business days to respond.

Call 229-732-2525 or visit the Randolph County Sheriff's Office in Cuthbert to submit your request. You can ask about current inmates over the phone at no cost. If you need printed copies, there may be a small fee. Written requests can also be mailed to the PO Box address.

Booking photos are covered by O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19. This law prevents law enforcement from releasing a booking photo to someone who intends to post it on a website or in a publication that charges for removal. The photo still exists as part of the file. The sheriff's office reviews each request for a booking photo on its own merits before deciding to release it.

Georgia 72 Hour Booking Resources for Randolph County

Statewide databases extend your search beyond the Randolph County jail. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers anyone in state prison. If a Randolph County arrest led to a conviction and the person was sent to a state facility, this is where you look. The search is free and shows the current facility, sentence info, and release dates.

The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) at the GBI runs criminal history checks. Call 404-244-2639 with questions. A GCIC background check covers all Georgia counties, so it can reveal past arrests beyond Randolph County. This is useful when you need a complete picture of someone's record.

The GDC offender search is shown here:

This tool covers people in the state prison system only. It will not show someone who is still in the Randolph County jail waiting for trial or sentencing.

The VINE notification system is a free service that sends alerts about an inmate's status. Register to get a call, text, or email when someone is released, transferred, or has a court date. The VINE number is 833-216-6670. It works in Randolph County and across most of Georgia. This is the tool to use if you want immediate notice when someone gets out of jail.

Record Restriction in Randolph County

Some Randolph County booking records can be restricted after the case concludes. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 governs this. If charges were dropped, dismissed, or the person was found not guilty, they can petition for restriction. A restricted record does not show on most background checks. It still exists in the database, but the public cannot access it.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 is another route. A judge can sentence a person as a first offender if they have no prior felony convictions. After completing the sentence without violations, the record is sealed. A Randolph County booking that ended in a first offender sentence may not appear in future public searches. The process starts at the Randolph County Clerk of Superior Court in Cuthbert. It involves forms, fees, and a waiting period of several weeks before the restriction takes full effect.

Restricted records do not vanish completely. Law enforcement retains full access. Certain employers and professional licensing boards may also see them. But for ordinary public searches, a restricted booking record in Randolph County will not come up.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Randolph County in southwest Georgia. If you are unsure where an arrest took place, the neighboring sheriff's offices can help you track down the right booking.