Access Savannah Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Savannah are split between the city's Municipal Court and the Chatham County Superior Court. The Savannah Municipal Court handles traffic tickets, city ordinance violations, and misdemeanor criminal cases that happen within city limits. Felony charges and more serious criminal matters go through the Chatham County Superior Court in the Eastern Judicial Circuit. Unlike Augusta, Columbus, and Macon, Savannah has not consolidated with Chatham County, so the city and county maintain separate court systems. The Municipal Court sits at 133 Montgomery Street in downtown Savannah. Public access to court records is protected under Georgia open records law.

Savannah Municipal Court Records

The Savannah Municipal Court handles traffic violations, local code offenses, and misdemeanor criminal cases within city limits. The court processes thousands of cases each year. If you got a ticket or were arrested for a misdemeanor in Savannah, this is where your case record is kept. The court does not handle felonies or cases that fall outside Savannah city limits.

The Municipal Court is at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401. Call (912) 651-1941 for case information. You can walk in during business hours to ask about a case. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff will look up your case by name or citation number. They can print copies of records, including dispositions, fine payment history, and court dates. The clerk's office also handles bond information for defendants in custody.

Note: Savannah Municipal Court handles only city-level cases; felonies go to the Chatham County Superior Court.

Savannah Records at Chatham County

Felony criminal cases in Savannah are filed in the Chatham County Superior Court. This includes drug charges, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious offenses. The Eastern Judicial Circuit handles all criminal matters in Chatham County. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains these records at the Chatham County Courthouse in downtown Savannah.

Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County, so the city and county courthouses are close together. That said, they are separate institutions. The Municipal Court is a city operation. The Superior Court is a county operation. If you are not sure which court holds the record you need, think about the charge. Misdemeanor or traffic: Municipal Court. Felony: Superior Court. Some cases start in Municipal Court and get bound over to Superior Court after a preliminary hearing.

You can search Chatham County court records through the E-Access to Court Records portal. This statewide system pulls case data from courts across Georgia. Set up a free account and search by defendant name, case number, or attorney. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and outcome information.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from all 159 Georgia counties. You can search Chatham County data through this tool. Standard accounts cost $14.95 per month. The FANS alert system is free and sends you updates when new filings appear under a tracked name.

Savannah Police Criminal Records

The Savannah Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement files. The police records division is at 201 Habersham Street, Savannah, GA 31401. You can call (912) 651-6675 to ask about a specific report or start a records request.

Savannah also has a formal open records request process through the City Manager's Office. You can submit requests online or in writing. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the Georgia Open Records Act, all public agencies must release records unless a specific exemption applies. The city has three business days to respond. If they need more time, they must put that in writing.

How to Search Savannah Criminal Records

Several tools are available for looking up criminal court records in Savannah. Pick the one that fits your needs best.

For online research, the GSCCCA and E-Access portals cover Chatham County filings. GSCCCA provides index-level data on court filings. E-Access digs into case specifics like charges, court dates, and case outcomes. Both work from any computer with internet access.

If you need your own criminal history, go to the Chatham County Sheriff's Office and request a Purpose Code U report. This pulls data from the Georgia Crime Information Center and shows your arrest records, charges, and court outcomes statewide. Fingerprints are required. The GBI Criminal History Helpline at (404) 244-2639 can answer questions about the process.

For in-person searches, visit the Municipal Court at 133 Montgomery Street or the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court. Bring the full name and date of birth for the person you are looking up. A case number helps. Clerk staff at both locations can pull records during your visit.

Copy fees under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 are capped at $0.10 per page. Staff search time is free for the first 15 minutes. After that, the agency can charge a reasonable rate for the extra labor.

Savannah Criminal Record Restrictions

Georgia allows people to restrict certain criminal records from public view. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you may qualify to restrict records for arrests that did not result in a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. The lifetime cap is two misdemeanor restrictions.

For arrests in Savannah, contact the Chatham County District Attorney's Office to start the process. You will need to file a petition with the court. Agencies may charge up to $50 for processing the restriction. Once the court grants your petition, those records are pulled from public access. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense attorneys can also access restricted records for active cases through written request to the GCIC.

Trafficking victims may qualify for free restriction under the Survivors First Act. No fee applies. Contact the GBI or a local legal aid organization for details on eligibility and the filing process.

Nearby Cities

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