Search Rome Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Rome are kept by two main courts. The Rome Municipal Court handles city code violations, traffic cases, and misdemeanor crimes that take place in the city. Felony cases and more serious charges go to the Floyd County Superior Court. Rome serves as the seat of Floyd County and the center of the Rome Judicial Circuit. Both courts fall under Georgia's open records laws, which means the public can ask for and get copies of most criminal case files. The Municipal Court sits at 5 Government Plaza in downtown Rome, right next to other city offices.

Rome Municipal Court Records

The Rome Municipal Court is the first stop for many criminal cases in the city. It has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and local ordinance violations. If you were cited or arrested for a low-level offense in Rome, your case file is here. The court does not handle felonies. Those go up to the Floyd County Superior Court.

You can reach the court by phone or walk in during business hours. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Bring a photo ID if you plan to visit. The clerk can pull records and make copies for you on the spot. Under Georgia law, copy fees are capped at $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free.

Note: Rome Municipal Court does not handle felony cases, which go through the Floyd County Superior Court system.

Floyd County Criminal Court

Felony criminal cases in Rome are filed in the Floyd County Superior Court. This includes drug charges, violent crimes, theft above certain amounts, and other serious offenses. The Rome Judicial Circuit covers all of Floyd County. The Floyd County Clerk of Superior Court keeps these records at the county courthouse in downtown Rome.

Floyd County also runs a State Court that handles misdemeanor cases, DUIs, and some traffic offenses. The State Court works alongside the Municipal Court but covers cases that fall under state law rather than city ordinances. Both courts keep their records open to the public. You can search for case files at the clerk's office during normal hours.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from all 159 Georgia counties. You can search Floyd County records through this tool. A standard account costs $14.95 per month. Premium runs $29.95 per month. The GSCCCA also runs the free FANS alert system. It lets you track new filings by name across any county.

The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal is another way to search Rome criminal cases. It pulls data from courts across the state, including Floyd County. You need to set up a free account before you can search. The system shows case status, charges, and hearing dates.

How to Search Rome Criminal Records

There are a few ways to find criminal court records in Rome. The best option depends on what you need and how fast you need it.

For online searches, start with the GSCCCA or E-Access portal. Both pull from Floyd County court data. The GSCCCA is a paid tool but gives you access to deed records and liens too. E-Access is free but you must make an account first. You can search by name, case number, or date range.

To search in person, go to the Rome Municipal Court at 5 Government Plaza or the Floyd County Courthouse. Bring the full name and date of birth of the person you need records for. A case number speeds things up. Clerk staff at both spots can pull records while you wait.

For your own criminal history, you can get a Purpose Code U report through the Floyd County Sheriff or the Rome Police Department. This pulls data from the Georgia Crime Information Center and shows your arrest records, charges, and outcomes statewide. You will need to give your name, date of birth, and fingerprints. The GBI Criminal History page explains the full steps.

Note: Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees are $0.10 per page and the first 15 minutes of search time are free at any Georgia public office.

Rome Criminal Record Restrictions

Georgia allows some criminal records to be restricted 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
• Cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months
• Charges dismissed or not prosecuted
• Youthful offender cases in certain situations

The cap is two misdemeanor restrictions per lifetime. Felony restrictions are more limited. For arrests in Rome on or after July 1, 2013, contact the Rome Judicial Circuit District Attorney to start the process. For older arrests, reach out to the Rome Police Department. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process a restriction request.

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 call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 for more details about the process.

Georgia Open Records Law

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 means the Rome Municipal Court and the Floyd County Clerk must respond to your request within three business days. They can ask for more time if the request is large, but they have to tell you that in writing.

You do not need to give a reason for your request. Anyone can ask. You do not have to be a Georgia resident. Just put your request in writing and send it to the right office. Email works in most cases. Some offices also take requests through online portals.

The GBI Open Records Unit now takes requests through their online portal only. They stopped taking email requests as of December 2023. The GBI runs the state criminal history database, so if you need records that go beyond what Floyd County has, this is the place to go.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Rome also have criminal court records you can search. Each city runs its own municipal court, but felony cases go through the county where the offense took place.