Find Ben Hill County Criminal Records
Ben Hill County criminal court records are maintained at the courthouse in Fitzgerald by the Clerk of Superior Court. This South Georgia county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its court system, and all records are open to the public under state law. You can search criminal court files by visiting the clerk office on South Grant Street, calling for case info, or using statewide online databases that include Ben Hill County data. The clerk staff in Fitzgerald can pull case files, check court dates, and give you copies of documents during normal business hours. Ben Hill County sits in a region with several smaller counties, and the courthouse in Fitzgerald serves as the hub for all criminal court activity in the area.
Ben Hill County Criminal Records Quick Facts
Ben Hill County Court Clerk
The Clerk of Superior Court in Ben Hill County manages all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 602 S. Grant Street in Fitzgerald. You can call (229) 426-5113 for case questions or to check on a criminal filing. Staff can search by name or case number and make copies during regular hours. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk-ins are welcome. Since Ben Hill County serves a smaller population, the office can often process requests faster than larger metro counties.
The GSCCCA page for Ben Hill County shows the clerk details and links to filing data through the state cooperative authority system.
From the GSCCCA page, you can verify the Ben Hill County clerk info and browse the statewide filing indexes that cover all Georgia counties.
| Superior Court Clerk |
602 S. Grant Street Fitzgerald, GA 31750 Phone: (229) 426-5113 |
|---|---|
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Searching Ben Hill County Criminal Records
The most direct way to get criminal court records from Ben Hill County is to call the clerk at (229) 426-5113 or visit the courthouse in Fitzgerald. Staff there can pull files and make copies. The copy fee across Georgia is $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the office may charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid staff member who can do the work. Most requests at the Ben Hill County clerk office fall within the free period.
Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask for them. The Ben Hill County clerk has three business days to respond. You do not need to give a reason for your request. This rule applies whether you ask in person, by phone, by fax, or in writing. The Georgia Open Records Act makes it clear that the public has a right to inspect and copy court records, including criminal case files.
Ben Hill County does not run its own court records search portal. For online options, try the E-Access to Court Records system. You need an account to use it. The GSCCCA maintains filing indexes for all 159 counties and charges $14.95 per month for a regular account. Premium access is $29.95 per month. These tools can help you find criminal case data from Ben Hill County without driving to Fitzgerald.
Criminal Case Types in Ben Hill County
Ben Hill County Superior Court handles all felony cases. Drug trafficking, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and murder charges all go through Superior Court. State Court takes misdemeanor matters like DUI, simple assault, minor drug possession, and petty theft. Magistrate Court holds preliminary hearings and sets bail for criminal defendants. Each of these courts generates records that the Ben Hill County clerk keeps on file at the courthouse in Fitzgerald.
Criminal cases in Ben Hill County follow a predictable path. Someone gets arrested. The arresting agency files charges. The case enters the court system. From there, hearings take place. Motions get filed. The case either goes to trial or ends in a plea deal. Every step along the way produces records. All of those records end up with the Ben Hill County Clerk of Superior Court. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records tied to active investigations may be off limits to the public. Once a case wraps up, the full file becomes accessible. Even for open cases, basic docket info and court dates are typically available in Ben Hill County.
You may need these details when you search:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth or age
- Case number if known
- Felony or misdemeanor case type
Ben Hill County Record Restriction
Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows certain criminal records to be restricted from public access. Record restriction in Ben Hill County works the same as the rest of the state. It covers arrests that did not end in a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases placed on a dead docket for over 12 months. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, start the process through the District Attorney in the county where the arrest happened. For older arrests, go to the arresting law enforcement agency. The fee can reach $50.
Georgia puts a cap of two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per lifetime. Violent felonies and sexual offenses are never eligible. Time-expired restrictions can happen automatically. If the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final case disposition within the required period, the record may be restricted on its own. Misdemeanors have a two-year window. Felonies get four years. Serious violent felonies have seven. These automatic restrictions only apply to the state-level database. A formal restriction request is needed for a full restriction that covers all levels.
To get a copy of your own Ben Hill County criminal history, go to the local sheriff's office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. This is the way Georgia handles personal criminal history checks. The GBI Criminal History page explains the process. Call (404) 244-2639 option 3 for help. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense attorneys can request criminal history data from the Georgia Crime Information Center by submitting a written request with case info.
Note: Victims of trafficking may qualify for free record restriction under the Survivors First Act.
Ben Hill County Court Resources
Ben Hill County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system. Lawyers and case parties can file documents online. This creates a digital record that becomes part of the court file. The eFileGA platform runs 24/7. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, clerks may provide online public access to these eFiled documents. This is one more way to reach criminal court records from Ben Hill County without visiting the courthouse.
The GBI Open Records Unit handles requests for state-level criminal history records. Since December 2023, they no longer accept requests by email. Use their online portal at gbigeorgia.govqa.us or mail your request to the GBI at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. This covers criminal history data from Ben Hill County and every other county in the state.
Cities in Ben Hill County
All criminal cases from Ben Hill County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Fitzgerald. The courthouse on South Grant Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.
Cities and towns in Ben Hill County include Fitzgerald. Criminal cases from this area and the surrounding unincorporated parts of the county are all processed through the Ben Hill County court system.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Ben Hill County. If you are looking for a criminal record and are not sure which county has it, check where the arrest took place. Cases are filed in the county where the crime allegedly occurred.