County Sheriff, Jails, Warrants, Civil Process

Georgia County Sheriff

The county sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county, running the jail, serving civil process, handling pre-trial custody, and in most Georgia counties, posting the active-warrant and inmate roster online.

Guide

Georgia County Sheriff at a Glance

The sheriff list below links 155 Georgia county sheriffs to the office's own website or to the sheriff's page on the county website. Each link was opened and checked on October 16, 2026. 4 counties have no sheriff web page we could confirm.

Guide

Georgia Sheriff and Local Law Enforcement Resources

Counties A to C (38)
Counties D to G (27)
Counties H to L (26)
Counties M to R (29)
Counties S to W (35)

Straight answers

Georgia County Sheriff, questions

What's the difference between a sheriff and a police chief?

A sheriff is elected county-wide, runs the county jail, and has jurisdiction over the entire county (including unincorporated areas). A police chief is appointed by a city and has jurisdiction only inside the city limits.

Can the sheriff serve process outside the county?

Generally no. Civil process must be served by a sheriff or process server in the county where the person or property is located. Neighboring counties cooperate but do not have cross-county police powers.

Are jail inmate records public?

Yes, in most Georgia counties. Basic booking information is public: name, charge, booking date, bond amount. Medical and mental-health intake is not.

Does the sheriff handle 911 calls?

In many rural counties, yes, the sheriff's office is the primary 911 answering point. In urban counties with a city police department, 911 is usually split by jurisdiction of the caller.