Find Clarke County Jail Mugshots

Clarke County jail mugshots are available through the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office, which runs a consolidated city-county government with Athens. The sheriff's office posts a 7-day arrest listing that updates every 15 minutes with new booking photos and arrest data. Clarke County is home to the University of Georgia and has a population around 128,671. You can search for jail mugshots online through the county's arrest listing tool at no cost. This page walks through the search tools for Clarke County jail mugshots, the rules around these records under Georgia law, and what you need to do if you want a copy of booking records.

Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office

Clarke County operates as a consolidated government with the City of Athens. The Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office handles jail operations for the entire area. The office is at 325 E. Washington St., Suite 125, Athens, GA 30601. You can call (706) 613-3250 for general questions about inmates or booking records.

Because of the consolidated setup, there is no separate city police jail in Athens. All arrests in Clarke County flow through the same system. This makes it simpler to search for jail mugshots since you only have to check one source. Every person booked into the Clarke County jail gets a mugshot taken during processing. That photo is kept as part of the booking record along with charge details, bond info, and personal data.

Clarke County sees a steady level of arrests. Recent data shows about 1,304 total arrests with a rate of 1,868.41 per 100,000 residents. Larceny makes up about 22.1% of arrests, while aggravated assault accounts for about 4.5%. The rest covers a mix of other charges. These numbers give a sense of how active the jail booking system is in Clarke County.

Clarke County Jail Mugshot Search

The primary tool for finding Clarke County jail mugshots is the 7-day arrest listing. This page shows all bookings from the past seven days. It updates every 15 minutes, so new arrests appear quickly. Each entry includes the person's name, booking photo, charges, and arrest date. This is the fastest way to check recent jail mugshots in Clarke County.

The 7-day listing is public and free. You do not need an account. Just visit the page and browse or use your browser's search function to find a specific name. The tool only covers the past week, though. If you need to look up a booking from further back, you will have to contact the sheriff's office directly at (706) 613-3250 or visit in person at 325 E. Washington St.

Clarke County participates in Georgia's VINE notification system. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Register at www.vinelink.com or call 1-866-277-7477. VINE sends free alerts when an inmate at the Clarke County jail is released or transferred. It does not show mugshots, but it confirms custody status and is a useful tracking tool.

For the most up-to-date results, always start with the official Athens-Clarke County 7-day arrest listing.

Clarke County Background Checks

The Clarke County Clerk of Courts offers background check services. The office is at 325 E. Washington St., Suite 450, Athens, GA 30601. The phone number is (706) 613-3190. A background check costs $20 and requires a valid ID. This check covers court records in Clarke County, which can include case outcomes tied to jail bookings.

A background check through the clerk is different from a jail mugshot search. The clerk's check shows court case results, while the jail roster shows current bookings. If you need both, you will have to use both tools. The clerk's office handles its own requests and does not have access to the sheriff's jail booking system.

For statewide criminal history beyond Clarke County, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs background searches through the Georgia Crime Information Center. This covers arrest data from all 159 Georgia counties. The GBI search is a broader tool and may show records that are not in the Clarke County system.

Mugshot Laws Affecting Clarke County

Georgia law controls how jail mugshots can be shared. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, law enforcement agencies cannot release booking photos to websites that charge for removal. This has been the law since July 1, 2014. The Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office follows these rules when handling mugshot requests. If someone asks for a booking photo, they must sign a statement saying it will not go on a pay-to-remove site.

The 7-day arrest listing on the county website shows mugshots as part of jail operations. That is permitted under the law. The restriction targets commercial use of booking photos. If a website posts your Clarke County jail mugshot and will not take it down, you have legal options. O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 says those sites must remove the photo within 30 days of a written request. You can file a complaint with the Georgia Consumer Protection Division if the site does not respond.

Note: The Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives you the right to request jail records, but mugshot requests may need the signed statement under § 35-1-19.

Clarke County Arrest Record Restriction

If your case was dismissed or you were found not guilty in Clarke County, you can apply for record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This seals your arrest record from public view. The jail mugshot, booking data, and fingerprints are all covered by the restriction. Once granted, these records will not show up in public searches or standard background checks.

You file the petition in the court where your case was handled. In Clarke County, that is typically the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. The petition needs your case number and the outcome. A judge reviews the request and decides whether to grant it. The whole process can take a few weeks to a couple of months. Having a lawyer is not required, but it can help move things along and make sure the paperwork is done right.

Open records requests for Clarke County jail data follow state rules. The sheriff's office must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Copy fees are 10 cents per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. You can make a request in person at 325 E. Washington St. or by calling (706) 613-3250.

State Prison Records from Clarke County

Inmates convicted in Clarke County who receive state sentences get transferred to the Georgia Department of Corrections. Once they leave the county jail, their records move to the state system. You can look up these inmates through the GDC offender search. This tool shows a current photo, sentence details, and the facility where the person is held.

The GDC search is separate from the Clarke County jail roster. The county roster only shows people currently held in the local jail. Once an inmate transfers to state prison, they no longer appear on the county list. Use the GDC tool if you know someone was convicted in Clarke County and is now serving time in the state system.

Cities in Clarke County

Athens is the only qualifying city in Clarke County with a population over 25,000. Because of the consolidated government, Athens and Clarke County share the same jail and booking system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clarke County. Jail mugshots are kept by the county that processed the booking. If you need records from an arrest in a neighboring area, check that county's jail search tools.