Search Chattooga County Jail Mugshots

Chattooga County jail mugshots are managed by the sheriff's office in Summerville, Georgia. Located in the northwest corner of the state, Chattooga County processes all local bookings through one jail facility. Finding jail mugshots from Chattooga County means working with the sheriff's office directly or checking statewide databases maintained by the Georgia Department of Corrections and the GBI. This page covers each search method and breaks down the Georgia laws that control how booking photos get shared. Whether you need a current inmate check or an older booking record, the steps below will point you in the right direction for Chattooga County.

Chattooga County Sheriff's Office

The Chattooga County Sheriff's Office handles all jail operations in the county. It is based in Summerville and runs the county jail where all local bookings take place. Every person arrested in Chattooga County gets processed through this facility, and a booking photo is taken as part of intake. The sheriff keeps these jail mugshots on file.

Chattooga County does not have a publicly accessible online jail roster at this time. So the fastest way to check on an inmate or get a jail mugshot is to call the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office directly. Have the person's full name ready. A date of birth helps narrow it down too. Staff can confirm whether someone is currently held at the Chattooga County jail and whether a booking photo exists for them. Summerville is a small town, and the office tends to be responsive to inquiries about current inmates.

You can also visit the sheriff's office in person during business hours. Bring your ID. Walk-in requests for Chattooga County jail mugshots are handled at the front desk in most cases, though you may need to submit a written request depending on what you are looking for.

Find Chattooga County Booking Records

Beyond the sheriff's office, state-level databases can help you track down jail mugshots connected to Chattooga County. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers inmates serving state sentences. GDC manages roughly 51,000 inmates across 35 facilities statewide. If someone was convicted in Chattooga County and sent to state prison, their mugshot and case details will appear in this search tool.

You can search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results show the inmate's photo, sentence length, facility location, and release date when available. This is separate from the Chattooga County jail roster. The county jail holds people before trial and those serving short sentences. GDC holds people after they have been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison.

For broader criminal history checks, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains records through the Georgia Crime Information Center. GCIC tracks arrests, court dispositions, and custody information across every county in Georgia. Chattooga County arrest data feeds into this statewide system. Requesting a report from the GBI takes a bit more time but gives a fuller picture than a jail roster check alone.

Chattooga County Open Records

The Georgia Open Records Act gives you the right to request jail records from the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the sheriff must respond to your request within three business days. This covers booking records, arrest reports, and jail mugshots in Chattooga County.

Put your request in writing and send it to the sheriff's office in Summerville. Include the full name of the person and the approximate date of the arrest if you know it. The more details you provide, the faster the office can locate the right records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees are capped at 10 cents per page. Chattooga County cannot charge more than that for paper copies of jail records.

Georgia Mugshot Laws and Chattooga County

Georgia state law puts restrictions on how jail mugshots can be used. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, which took effect July 1, 2014, law enforcement agencies in Georgia are not allowed to post booking photos on websites except under certain conditions. Anyone who requests a Chattooga County jail mugshot must sign a written statement saying the photo will not end up on a site that charges for removal. This rule applies to every request, no exceptions.

If a commercial mugshot website posts your Chattooga County booking photo, you have options. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, the site must remove it within 30 days after you send a written request. If they do not comply, you can file a complaint with the Georgia Consumer Protection Division. The state takes these complaints seriously and can take action against sites that violate Georgia law.

People arrested in Chattooga County who had their case dismissed or were found not guilty may be able to restrict their records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, record restriction seals booking data and jail mugshots from public access. You still need to apply for it through the court or arresting agency. Talk to a lawyer if you are not sure whether your Chattooga County case qualifies.

Note: Record restriction does not erase the record entirely; law enforcement can still access restricted files.

Nearby Counties

Chattooga County borders several other northwest Georgia counties. Jail mugshots are kept by the county where the booking happened, so make sure you are searching the right jurisdiction.