Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Sheriff James A Hale Jr. during business hours.

Hours

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

You may call at 706-769-3945. After business hours, contact the dispatch center at 706-769-5665 or by email.

To pick up a copy of a motor vehicle crash or incident report, please contact the Sheriff's Office during business hours at 706-769-3945. If you are not a party involved in a car crash, you may not be able to pick up the report. The Sheriff's Office complies with the Georgia Open Records Act and there may be costs associated with the research and reproduction of documents as provided by law.

To complete a criminal history request for your own employment purposes, you must come to the administrative office of the Sheriff's Office and submit the required form. You may pick up the form and complete it when you come in, or you may download the form from this website, complete it at your convenience, and present it in person along with the required fee of $20 cash only. A government-issued photo ID is required, driver's license, passport, etc. If you wish to request a criminal history report, please print the Consent Form (PDF), and bring the completed form to the Sheriff's Office.

If you have an issue with the accuracy of a report generated by the Sheriff's Office, you should first contact the deputy who prepared it.  He or she may correct mistakes, but may not make changes that alter the facts as written unless there is a material mistake.  The final decision is the responsibility of the employee who created the report.  Reports will not be altered or changed if the information is factually accurate.

If you want to do business with the Sheriff's Office, contact Sheriff Hale directly at 706-769-3945 or by email.

Job applications must be picked up and returned to the Oconee County Human Resources Department located at the Courthouse in Watkinsville. Only after the application is complete will it be forwarded to the Sheriff's Office for review.  Apply Here

If you want to complain about the conduct of an employee or praise the conduct of an employee, contact the Chief Deputy at 706-769-3945 or by email. He will forward all information to the Sheriff and/or the appropriate supervisor for follow-up. He is responsible to the Sheriff for the conduct of all internal affairs investigations. Anonymous complaints may be followed up or not, based on the nature of the investigation or information reported.

Captain Matt Towe is responsible for the day-to-day operations in the Jail. He can be reached at 706-769-3930 during business hours or email Captian Towe. To contact him after hours, call the dispatch center at 706-769-5665.

If someone you know is in jail, they will either have a bond issued immediately after booking or within 72 hours of their arrest, depending upon the charges.  They will have ample opportunity to reach someone to arrange a bond.  See the "Bond Procedures" and "Bonding Companies" entry in the Jail section for further details.

The Oconee County Jail has a doctor trained in emergency medicine under contract who is responsible for all inmate medical needs. We use outside medical sources, when required, to provide inmate care. If you know an inmate that is sick or injured, the inmate must make a request to see the doctor. The jail staff will assist him or her as required. The jail staff and the Sheriff are not doctors, and can not give medical advice to an inmate. The jail physician makes all medical decisions.

You may insert cash into our kiosk located at the Oconee County Sheriff's Office or you may go to Jail ATM. This link will take you to the Canteen's website where you will scroll down to Oconee County GA. Follow the rest of the instructions directing you how to buy items from the store for an inmate currently incarcerated in our jail.

See the "Bond Procedures" entry in the Jail section.

Inmates earn the privilege of "good time" based on behavior, type of sentence, and participation in work details. Good time can be revoked for jail infractions. Good time is a privilege that must be maintained by an inmate.

Inmates are only allowed to contact people who wish to have contact with them. Collect calls ensure that only people who want calls from the jail actually receive them.  If you wish to provide money to an inmate for calls you may go to Paytel to add money to an inmates account.

You may dial 706-769-5665 and contact Captain Deanna Smith email or Lieutenant Robert Elder email.

All requests for 911 recordings must be in compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA). If you would like to request a copy of a 911 recording, come to the administration office of the Sheriff's Office and request a form to request the recording. The request will then be submitted to the Supervisor of Communications for a determination of whether or not the information can be provided. If the information can be given out pursuant to GORA, there may be a nominal fee for that service.

The patrol division has a supervisor on duty 24 hours a day. He or she can be reached by calling the non-emergency dispatch number at 706-769-5665.

The sheriff's office provides house checks for individuals who plan to be absent from their home for vacation or other purposes. You can come by the administration office and fill out a house check form, or you can click here for a downloadable form and drop it off to the administration office after it is complete. View the Request for Security Check (PDF).

Lieutenant Marla Brown email is the training director for the Sheriff's Office. We have POST certified instructors that teach a variety of topics in jail, patrol, and communications operations.

You can check the progress of your case by contacting Captain Vic Green email or the investigator assigned to your case. The phone number to contact Investigation personnel during business hours is 706-769-3945.

If an arrest has been made in your case, contact the District Attorney's Office at 706-769-3954 to make a status inquiry.

You can report information to the Sheriff's Office by calling 706-769-3945 and asking to speak to any investigator on duty.

The GBI, under most circumstances, is asked by the Sheriff or the DA to assist in an investigation. Contact them at 706-542-7901 if you have further questions regarding their jurisdiction.