Butts County Criminal Court Records

Butts County criminal court records are stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Jackson. The courthouse on East 3rd Street is where all felony and misdemeanor case files are kept. Butts County sits in the Towaliga Judicial Circuit, which also covers Monroe and Lamar counties. You can search criminal records by visiting the clerk office, calling ahead to check on a case, or using statewide online portals that pull data from Georgia courts. Located south of metro Atlanta along I-75, Butts County processes criminal cases from Jackson and the surrounding areas. The clerk staff can help with case searches, court dates, and document copies during weekday business hours.

Butts County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Butts County handles all criminal court records filed in the county. The main office is at 25 E. 3rd Street in Jackson. You can call (770) 775-8225 to check on a case or ask about getting copies of court documents. The staff can search by name or case number and pull files for you to look at. Walk-ins are accepted during normal business hours on weekdays. Bring a valid ID when you visit. Copy fees are $0.10 per page, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

The GSCCCA page for Butts County shows the clerk contact details and links to the county filing system.

From the GSCCCA site, you can check the Butts County clerk address and phone number. The site also connects to statewide search tools that cover all 159 Georgia counties.

Note: The Towaliga Judicial Circuit covers Butts, Monroe, and Lamar counties.

How to Search Butts County Criminal Records

You can search for criminal court records in Butts County a few different ways. Call the clerk office at (770) 775-8225 to ask about a specific case. Staff will look it up by name or case number. You can also visit the courthouse in Jackson during business hours for an in-person search. For online access, the statewide E-Access to Court Records portal can connect you to case data from courts across Georgia, including Butts County. You need an account to search.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can request them without giving a reason. The Butts County Clerk must respond within three business days. If there is a fee for search time, it is capped at the prorated hourly rate of the lowest paid qualified employee. You have the right to look at any criminal case file that is not specifically exempted by law.

When searching for criminal records in Butts County, you should have:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if you have one
• Whether it is a felony or misdemeanor case

Criminal Cases in Butts County

Butts County Superior Court handles all felony criminal cases. These include violent crimes, drug charges, and serious theft. The court sits at the courthouse in Jackson. The District Attorney for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit prosecutes felony cases from Butts County as well as cases from Monroe and Lamar counties. Magistrate Court handles preliminary hearings, bond settings, and county ordinance violations. Both courts create criminal court records that the Butts County Clerk maintains at the Jackson courthouse.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify. So can some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases placed on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Butts County residents should contact the District Attorney for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit to begin the process for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, reach out to the arresting law enforcement agency. Georgia allows up to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per person.

Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible for restriction. The process takes anywhere from two weeks to 90 days, and agencies can charge up to $50 for processing. Time-expired restrictions may also kick in if no disposition reaches GCIC within two years for a misdemeanor or four years for a felony.

Butts County Records Online Tools

Butts County does not run its own online case search portal. Statewide resources are the best way to search criminal court records from this county online. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 counties. GSCCCA mainly handles real estate and lien records, but it can direct you to the right clerk for criminal case files in Butts County. A regular account runs $14.95 per month. Premium access costs $29.95 per month.

To check your own criminal history, visit the Butts County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page has details on how this works. Call the GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for statewide record questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records are exempt from public access. This includes pending criminal investigations, confidential informant data, and certain juvenile records. Once an investigation closes, the records become available to anyone.

Attorneys can request criminal history info from the Georgia Crime Information Center under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. Include the case style, number, and subject identification. Fees are waived for defendants who cannot pay. The Survivors First Act under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21 provides free record restriction for trafficking victims. These requests go to GCIC with no fee attached.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts email requests, so use their online portal or mail.

Cities in Butts County

All criminal cases from Butts County cities go through the Superior Court or Magistrate Court at the courthouse in Jackson. The clerk office on East 3rd Street handles all criminal case records for the county.

Cities and towns in Butts County include Jackson, Flovilla, and Jenkinsburg. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Butts County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Butts County. Criminal cases must be filed where the alleged crime happened. If you are unsure which county handles a case, check the location of the arrest.