Bartow County Criminal Court Records

Bartow County criminal court records are filed and stored at the courthouse on West Cherokee Avenue in Cartersville. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps all felony and misdemeanor case files for this northwest Georgia county. You can search Bartow County criminal records through the Georgia Judicial Gateway E-Access portal or the eCertification system for name-based lookups. In-person visits to the clerk's office are also an option. Bartow County sits in the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, and criminal cases here go through a specific set of judges and court staff. Six municipal courts also handle minor criminal matters in towns across the county.

Bartow County Court Clerk Office

Melba Scoggins serves as the Clerk of Superior Court for Bartow County. Her office handles all criminal court records in the county, from new case filings to older docket entries. The main office sits at 135 W Cherokee Ave, Suite 233, in Cartersville. You can reach the clerk by phone at (770) 387-5025. The fax number for civil and criminal matters is (770) 606-2389. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, which run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff can pull case files, check court dates, and make copies of criminal records for you.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 counties in the state, and Bartow County records are part of that system.

Through the GSCCCA website, you can search for Bartow County records in the statewide index. The system covers real estate, liens, UCC filings, and notary records. While the GSCCCA does not index criminal case files directly, it can point you to the right clerk office for criminal records. A regular account costs $14.95 per month. Premium access runs $29.95 per month. The GSCCCA also runs the eCertification Portal, which allows name-based searches for court records across Georgia counties.

How to Search Bartow County Criminal Records

There are a few ways to search for criminal court records in Bartow County. Online access is the fastest. The Georgia eCertification Portal lets you run name-based searches for Bartow County court records. You can also use the E-Access Georgia Judicial Gateway to look up case data. Both tools need an account to search. If you do not want to use the online tools, you can call the clerk's office at (770) 387-5025 or visit the courthouse at 135 W Cherokee Ave in Cartersville during business hours.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to give a reason. The clerk must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free. Bartow County may charge its own fees on top of the state minimum, so ask the clerk about costs before you place a large request.

To search criminal records in Bartow County, it helps to have:

• Full name of the person you are looking for
• Date of birth or age if you know it
• Case number if you have one
• Type of case (felony or misdemeanor)
• Approximate date of the arrest or filing

Bartow County Criminal Case Courts

Several courts handle criminal matters in Bartow County. Each one creates records that the clerk stores. The Superior Court takes felony cases. These are the most serious criminal charges, like violent crimes, drug trafficking, and major theft. The Superior Court sits at 135 West Cherokee Avenue, Suite 233, in Cartersville. You can reach it at (770) 387-5025. The civil and criminal fax line is (770) 606-2389. Bartow County is part of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, which means felony cases here go through judges assigned to that circuit.

The Magistrate Court handles preliminary hearings, bond matters, and warrant applications. It is at 112 West Cherokee Avenue, Suite 101, in Cartersville. Call (770) 387-5070 or fax (770) 387-5073. Probate Court sits at Suite 243A of the main courthouse. Its phone is (770) 387-5075. Juvenile Court is in Suite 333 at (770) 387-5039. Juvenile records are not open to the public in most cases.

Bartow County also has six municipal courts that handle minor criminal matters. Each town runs its own court for local ordinance violations, traffic tickets, and minor offenses. Here are the numbers:

• Adairsville Municipal Court: (770) 773-3451 ext. 102
• Cartersville Municipal Court: (770) 607-6307
• Emerson Municipal Court: (770) 386-8366
• Euharlee Municipal Court: (770) 386-1542 ext. 2009
• Kingston Municipal Court: (770) 336-5905
• White Municipal Court: (770) 382-5466

Note: Municipal court records are kept by each city, not by the Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court.

Bartow County Criminal Record Resources

Beyond the clerk's office, other agencies work with criminal court records in Bartow County. The Bartow County Sheriff's Office handles arrests, warrants, and jail operations. If you want your own criminal history, visit the sheriff's office and ask for a "Purpose Code U" report. This is how you get your Georgia criminal record for personal use. The sheriff's office requires an Open Records Request Form for most record requests. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, they must respond within three business days. In-person requests are also accepted.

The GBI contact page has phone numbers and mailing info for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which runs the statewide criminal history database.

The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your criminal history statewide, including cases from Bartow County. The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts requests by email as of December 2023. Use their online portal at gbigeorgia.govqa.us or mail your request to the GBI Legal Division at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records can be restricted from public view. This covers arrests that did not lead to a conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait.

Restricting Criminal Records in Bartow County

Georgia uses "record restriction" instead of expungement. The criminal record gets hidden from public view but stays on file for courts and law enforcement. Not all records qualify for this. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. Certain misdemeanor convictions may qualify after four years from when you finished your sentence, as long as you have no other convictions. Georgia limits each person to two record restrictions for misdemeanor convictions total.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply through the arresting law enforcement agency. For arrests on or after that date, contact the prosecuting attorney in the county where the arrest took place. In Bartow County, that means the District Attorney's office in Cartersville. The process can take two weeks to 90 days. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process a restriction request. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can also share criminal history data with attorneys who submit a written request for trial prep.

Victims of trafficking may get free record restriction under the Debbie Vance Act at O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21. This applies when the conviction was a direct result of being trafficked. There is no fee for that type of request.

Note: Time-expired restrictions may still show up on FBI or out-of-state background checks, so the formal application process gives you the most complete restriction.

Cities in Bartow County

Bartow County sits in northwest Georgia with six incorporated cities. All felony and misdemeanor cases from these areas go through the Bartow County Superior Court or Magistrate Court at the courthouse in Cartersville. Municipal courts handle minor local offenses within each city.

Other cities and towns in Bartow County include Adairsville, Emerson, Euharlee, Kingston, and White. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Bartow County court system, though each city runs its own municipal court for local matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bartow County. If you are not sure which county handles a criminal case, check the address where the arrest took place. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime occurred.