Cartersville Criminal Court Records Lookup

Criminal court records in Cartersville are split between the city's municipal court and the Bartow County Superior Court. The Cartersville Municipal Court handles traffic tickets, city code violations, and misdemeanor cases that occur inside city limits. Felony charges and serious criminal matters go to the Bartow County Superior Court, which is part of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. Cartersville is the county seat of Bartow County, so both courts are in the same town. The municipal court sits on West Main Street. The county courthouse is nearby. All court records are open to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act, found at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, unless a judge has sealed them.

Cartersville Municipal Court Records

The Cartersville Municipal Court processes cases for offenses that happen within city limits. Traffic violations, DUI charges, shoplifting, disorderly conduct, and city code violations all go through this court. It is a busy court for a city of this size, serving as the first stop for many criminal cases in the area.

The court office is at 178 W. Main Street in Cartersville. You can also send mail to P.O. Box 1390, Cartersville, GA 30120. Call (770) 607-6307 for case info or to ask about court dates. Walk-in requests for records are taken during business hours. The clerk can look up cases by name or citation number. Copy fees are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free.

Note: The municipal court does not handle felony charges or cases that took place outside Cartersville city limits.

Bartow County Criminal Records

Felony cases from Cartersville are filed in the Bartow County Superior Court. The Cherokee Judicial Circuit covers Bartow County along with Cherokee County. Drug offenses, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and murder cases all go through superior court. The Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court keeps these files at the courthouse in Cartersville.

Since Cartersville is the county seat, the courthouse is right in town. You can go in during business hours and ask to view criminal case records. The clerk staff can search by defendant name or case number. The office also provides certified copies for a fee. Online tools are available through the clerk's website for searching case dockets and filing info.

The Bartow County Magistrate Court handles bond hearings, warrant applications, and preliminary hearings for felony arrests. If someone was arrested in Cartersville, the magistrate court likely processed the first appearance. The case file then moves to superior court for indictment and trial proceedings.

Bartow County also has a State Court that handles misdemeanor cases, including DUI and drug possession. If a charge is too serious for municipal court but does not rise to felony level, it may end up in state court. Check all three courts if you need a full picture of someone's criminal record in the county.

Search Cartersville Criminal Records

You have several ways to find criminal court records connected to Cartersville. The method you pick depends on the case type and how quickly you need the info.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from all 159 Georgia counties. Bartow County records are in the system. A basic plan costs $14.95 per month. Premium is $29.95. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. The data goes back many years.

The FANS alert tool is free. Set up an account and enter the names you want to track. When a new filing hits any Georgia county under that name, you get an email alert. It works across all 159 counties.

The E-Access to Court Records portal pulls case data from courts across the state. This includes Bartow County courts. You need to create a free account before you can run searches. The results show case status, charges, and court dates.

For in-person lookups, you can visit the municipal court on West Main Street or the Bartow County Courthouse. Bring the person's full name and date of birth. A case number will speed up the search. Clerk staff at both courts can pull records while you wait.

For your own criminal history, go to the Cartersville Police Department or the Bartow County Sheriff to get fingerprinted. The GBI uses those prints to run a Purpose Code U report. This pulls your full criminal record from the Georgia Crime Information Center. Call (404) 244-2639 for details on the process.

Record Restriction in Georgia

Georgia law lets certain criminal records be restricted from public view. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you may qualify if your arrest did not end in a conviction. Misdemeanor convictions can be restricted after four years in some cases. Dead docket cases that sat inactive for more than 12 months may also be eligible.

There is a lifetime limit. You can only restrict two misdemeanor convictions total. Agencies may charge up to $50 per request to handle the paperwork. For Cartersville arrests, contact the Bartow County District Attorney to start the process. The Cartersville Police Department may need to process their side of it as well.

Once a record is restricted, it drops out of public searches. It will not show up at the courthouse or through online record tools. But law enforcement and certain state agencies can still see the file. This is not the same as having the record erased. The data still exists; it just gets blocked from public view.

• Arrests with no conviction can be restricted
• Some misdemeanors qualify after four years
• Dead docket cases inactive for 12+ months may be eligible
• Lifetime cap of two misdemeanor restrictions
• Agencies charge up to $50 per request

Note: Trafficking victims can apply for free restriction under the Survivors First Act with no fee charged.

State Resources for Cartersville

The GBI operates the state criminal history database for Georgia. The Criminal History Records Helpline is (404) 244-2639 option 3. Call with questions about your record or the search process. The GBI Open Records Unit takes requests through their online portal only. No email or phone requests are accepted.

Cartersville is in the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. Appeals from this circuit go to the Georgia Court of Appeals first, and then to the Georgia Supreme Court if needed. You can search appellate court dockets through the state judiciary website. This is helpful if a criminal case from Cartersville was appealed after trial.

For people who need a lawyer but cannot pay for one, legal aid is available. Georgia Legal Services covers Bartow County. The Bartow County Public Defender handles criminal cases for defendants who meet the income requirements. Both offices are free for those who qualify. The Cherokee Judicial Circuit also has a drug court program that may show up in criminal case records for eligible defendants.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Cartersville have their own municipal courts and criminal record resources. Felony cases from each city go through the county superior court where the offense was committed.