Search Madison County Jail Mugshots
Madison County jail mugshots are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Danielsville, Georgia. Located in northeast Georgia between Athens and the South Carolina border, Madison County has a population of about 30,000 residents. The county jail books all local arrests and photographs each person during intake. You can look up jail mugshots using state databases and by reaching out to the sheriff's office directly. This guide covers every way to find Madison County booking photos and what rules apply under Georgia law.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Sheriff's Office
The Madison County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. The office sits in Danielsville at the county courthouse complex. Deputies handle patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and jail operations. Every arrest made in Madison County goes through this office, and every booking includes a mugshot photo taken at the jail.
Madison County falls within the Western Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Clarke County. The Superior Court in Danielsville handles felony cases from throughout the county. Magistrate Court takes care of warrants, preliminary hearings, and small claims. State Court handles misdemeanor cases and traffic violations. If you need court records tied to a Madison County arrest, the Clerk of Superior Court in Danielsville is the place to start.
The sheriff's office also coordinates with local police departments in the county. Arrests made by city officers still get processed at the county jail, so the booking records and mugshots end up in the same system regardless of which agency made the arrest.
Find Madison County Jail Mugshots
Madison County does not currently operate a public online jail roster. To find out who is in custody at the Madison County jail, your best bet is to call the sheriff's office. They can confirm if someone is booked and provide basic booking details over the phone.
For inmates who were convicted in Madison County and sent to state prison, the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is a free tool. It shows mugshots, sentence length, and current facility assignments. Search by name or GDC ID. This database covers all state prison inmates across Georgia, including those sentenced out of Madison County courts.
Third-party jail roster sites also pull booking data from Georgia counties. These can be useful for finding older records. But the data on these sites may not be current. Always check with the Madison County Sheriff's Office first if you need the latest information on who is in the jail right now.
Madison County Arrest Records Access
Under Georgia's Open Records Act, you can request jail mugshots and booking records from Madison County. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives you the right to inspect government records. Contact the Madison County Sheriff's Office in Danielsville with your request. Include the person's full name and any other details you have. Date of birth or an arrest date helps them find the right records faster.
The office has three business days to respond under state law. Copy fees max out at 10 cents per page per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Electronic copies may cost less or nothing at all. If your request gets denied, the agency has to tell you why in writing, and you can appeal.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also maintains criminal history records statewide. This includes arrest data from Madison County. A GBI background check covers arrests, court outcomes, and incarceration history from all 159 Georgia counties. Fingerprint-based checks are more thorough than name-based ones.
Mugshot Laws in Madison County
O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 sets the rules for mugshot distribution in Georgia. Law enforcement agencies, including the Madison County Sheriff's Office, cannot post booking photos online except under certain conditions. Anyone who requests a mugshot must sign a statement saying the photo will not end up on a website that charges for removal. This law exists to stop commercial mugshot sites from profiting off arrests.
If charges against you in Madison County were dropped or dismissed, record restriction may be an option. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, qualifying individuals can have their arrest records sealed from public view. This covers mugshots, booking data, and other arrest details. Talk to an attorney about whether your situation qualifies.
The Georgia Consumer Protection Division handles complaints about mugshot websites. O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 says sites must remove a booking photo within 30 days of getting a written request. If they refuse, file a complaint with the state. This protection applies to all Georgia residents, including those booked in Madison County.
Madison County Criminal History
Criminal records in Madison County go beyond jail mugshots. Court records, case dispositions, and sentencing data are held by the Clerk of Superior Court. Magistrate Court records cover warrants and preliminary hearings. These are all public records under Georgia law unless sealed by a judge.
For a full criminal background check covering Madison County and the rest of the state, use the GBI's criminal history services. A fingerprint-based check gives complete results. Name-based searches are faster but less thorough because they rely on matching names rather than biometric data. Fees vary based on the type of check and the reason for the request.
Nearby Counties
Madison County is in northeast Georgia, close to several other counties. Mugshots are filed by the county where the arrest and booking happened. If you are not sure which county to check, try the ones listed here.