Search Augusta Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Augusta run through the consolidated Augusta-Richmond County government. The Augusta Municipal Court takes care of city ordinance violations, traffic cases, and some misdemeanor charges. Felony cases and more serious criminal matters go to the Richmond County Superior Court. Because Augusta and Richmond County merged back in 1996, most services fall under one roof. The Municipal Court sits at 530 Greene Street in downtown Augusta. Richmond County runs the Superior Court from the courthouse on James Brown Boulevard. Both courts make records available to the public under Georgia's open records law.

Augusta Municipal Court Records

The Augusta Municipal Court handles local ordinance cases and traffic violations within city limits. It also takes on some misdemeanor criminal matters. The court is part of the consolidated Augusta-Richmond County government, so it shares resources with the county. If you got a ticket or were picked up on a misdemeanor charge in Augusta, your case file is most likely here.

The court sits at 530 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901. You can call (706) 821-1850 for case information. Walk-in requests are handled during regular business hours. Staff will look up your case by name or citation number. Bring a photo ID if you plan to go in person. The clerk can give you copies of case records, disposition letters, and payment history.

Note: Augusta Municipal Court does not handle felony cases, which go through Richmond County Superior Court.

Augusta Records at Richmond County

Felony criminal cases in Augusta are filed in the Richmond County Superior Court. This covers drug charges, violent crimes, armed robbery, and other serious offenses. The Augusta Judicial Circuit handles all criminal matters in Richmond County. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps these records at the Richmond County Courthouse on James Brown Boulevard.

Since Augusta and Richmond County are a consolidated government, there is less confusion about where records live compared to other Georgia cities. One court system handles everything. If your case is a misdemeanor, it stays in Municipal Court. If it is a felony, it goes to Superior Court. State Court handles some cases in between. But all of these courts fall under the same county government.

You can search Richmond County criminal court records through the statewide E-Access to Court Records portal. This tool pulls case data from courts across Georgia. Set up a free account and search by name, case number, or date range. Case status, charges, court dates, and filing history all show up in the results.

The GSCCCA is another way to search. It indexes court filings from all 159 Georgia counties, including Richmond. A regular account costs $14.95 per month. Premium runs $29.95 per month. The GSCCCA also runs the free FANS alert system that tracks new filings by name across any county.

How to Search Augusta Criminal Records

There are a few ways to look up criminal court records in Augusta. The right method depends on what kind of record you need and how fast you need it.

For online searches, the GSCCCA and E-Access portals are your best bet. Both pull from court filing data across the state. GSCCCA gives you index-level data for deeds, liens, and court filings. E-Access focuses on active and closed court cases. You can search either one from home without visiting a courthouse.

For your own criminal history, visit the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. This pulls data from the Georgia Crime Information Center. It shows arrest records, charges, and court outcomes tied to your name and fingerprints statewide. The GBI manages this database. You can reach the Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3.

To search in person, go to the Municipal Court on Greene Street or the Richmond County Courthouse. Bring the full name and date of birth of the person you need records for. A case number helps speed things up. Clerk staff at both places can pull records while you wait.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees at any Georgia public office are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. If your request takes longer, the agency can charge for additional time at a reasonable rate.

Augusta Criminal Record Restrictions

Georgia lets people restrict certain criminal records from public view. This used to be called expungement. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you may be able to restrict records for arrests that did not lead to a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases that sat on a dead docket for more than 12 months. There is a lifetime cap of two misdemeanor restrictions.

For arrests in Augusta, contact the Richmond County District Attorney to start the restriction process. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process a restriction request. Once the court grants the petition, those records are pulled from public access. They will no longer appear in most standard record searches.

Trafficking victims may qualify for free record restriction under the Survivors First Act. There is no fee for this type of request. Talk to a local attorney or the GBI for more details on eligibility.

State Resources for Augusta Records

The GBI operates the state criminal history database. You can call the Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about your record. The GBI Open Records Unit takes requests through their online portal only. They stopped accepting email requests in late 2023.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the Georgia Open Records Act, all public agencies must release records unless a specific exemption applies. This covers both the Augusta consolidated government and the Richmond County court system. Agencies have three business days to respond to a request. If they need more time, they must let you know in writing and give a timeline for when the records will be ready.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense attorneys can request criminal history data from the GCIC by sending a written request with the case style, case number, and identifying information. This is commonly used by lawyers handling criminal cases in Augusta's courts. Fees apply but may be waived for defendants who cannot afford to pay.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Augusta also have criminal court records resources. Each city has its own municipal court, but felony cases go through the county where the offense took place.