Search Bleckley County Criminal Records

Bleckley County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court in Cochran. This central Georgia county processes felony and misdemeanor criminal cases and keeps all records at the courthouse on North 2nd Street. You can search for criminal court files by visiting the clerk office, calling to ask about a case, or using Georgia's statewide online search systems. Bleckley County is one of the smaller counties in the state, but the clerk office handles the same types of records and requests as any larger county. Staff can look up cases, pull court documents, and provide copies during business hours. The courthouse in Cochran is the one location where all Bleckley County criminal court records are housed.

Bleckley County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Bleckley County runs all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 112 N. 2nd Street in Cochran. Call (478) 934-3210 with questions about a criminal case or to request records. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The staff can search for records by name or case number and make copies for you. Walk-ins are welcome. Bleckley County has a smaller population, so the clerk office can often handle requests more quickly than courts in busier areas of the state.

The GSCCCA page for Bleckley County shows the clerk details and links to the statewide filing index that covers this county.

The GSCCCA page lets you verify clerk contact info and access filing data from Bleckley County through the state cooperative authority database.

How to Find Bleckley County Criminal Records

Searching for criminal court records in Bleckley County starts at the clerk office in Cochran. Call (478) 934-3210 or stop by the courthouse on North 2nd Street. The staff can pull files and make copies. Copy fees in Georgia are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the county can charge based on the employee's hourly rate. Most lookups at the Bleckley County clerk office take less than 15 minutes because of the lower volume.

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes criminal court records public. You can ask to see them without giving a reason. The Bleckley County clerk has three business days to respond. This applies to requests made in person, by phone, or in writing. The law gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records, including criminal case files from Bleckley County.

Bleckley County does not have its own online court portal. For remote searches, use the E-Access to Court Records system. You will need to create an account. The GSCCCA also maintains filing indexes for all 159 Georgia counties. Regular accounts cost $14.95 per month. Premium access is $29.95 per month. These statewide tools include Bleckley County data and can save you a trip to Cochran.

When you search for Bleckley County criminal records, bring or provide:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if you know it
• Whether it is a felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Case Types in Bleckley County

Bleckley County Superior Court takes felony cases. Serious crimes like drug trafficking, robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary go through Superior Court. State Court handles misdemeanor matters. DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and minor drug charges are typical State Court cases. Magistrate Court holds preliminary hearings and sets bail for defendants. All three courts sit at the courthouse in Cochran, and the records they create end up with the Bleckley County Clerk of Superior Court.

The criminal case process in Bleckley County works like it does in every Georgia county. An arrest happens. Charges get filed. The case goes through the court system with hearings, motions, and a resolution. Each step generates documents. Those documents become part of the criminal court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records tied to active criminal investigations may have limited public access. After a case closes, the full file opens up. Even for pending cases, docket info and hearing dates are typically available from the Bleckley County clerk.

Bleckley County Record Restriction

Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets people restrict certain criminal records from public view. The term for this in Georgia is record restriction. It used to be called expungement. In Bleckley County, the process follows state rules. It covers arrests that did not lead to a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, start through the District Attorney. For older arrests, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. Agencies can charge up to $50 for the request.

Each person in Georgia gets a maximum of two misdemeanor conviction restrictions. Violent felonies and sexual offenses do not qualify. Time-expired restrictions can kick in automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final disposition within the required period. That is two years for misdemeanors, four years for felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies. But these automatic restrictions only apply to the state-level database. A formal application through the DA or arresting agency provides a more complete restriction.

For a copy of your own criminal history from Bleckley County, go to the local sheriff's office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. This is how Georgia handles personal criminal record requests. The GBI Criminal History page explains the full process. Call (404) 244-2639 option 3 with questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense lawyers can also request criminal history info from the Georgia Crime Information Center by sending a written request with case and subject details. The fee is waived for defendants who cannot pay.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts email requests. Use their online portal or send requests by mail.

Bleckley County Court Resources

Bleckley County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic filing. Attorneys and parties to a criminal case can file motions and documents online rather than going to the courthouse in Cochran. This creates a digital record that becomes part of the court file. The eFileGA system is available 24 hours a day. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, the clerk may provide public access to view eFiled documents online. The GSCCCA also offers a free Filing Activity Notification System where you can sign up to get alerts about filings tied to your name in any Georgia county.

Cities in Bleckley County

All criminal cases from Bleckley County cities and towns go through the Superior Court or State Court in Cochran. The courthouse on North 2nd Street is the filing location for all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in the county.

Cities and towns in Bleckley County include Cochran. Criminal cases from the city and the unincorporated areas of the county are all handled through the Bleckley County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Bleckley County. Criminal cases are filed where the arrest took place. If you need a record from a neighboring county, reach out to that county's clerk office.