Candler County Criminal Records Lookup

Candler County criminal court records are kept at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Metter. The clerk on South College Street handles all felony and misdemeanor case filings for this small southeast Georgia county. Candler County is part of the Middle Judicial Circuit, which also covers Emanuel, Jefferson, Toombs, and Washington counties. You can search criminal records by calling the clerk office, visiting the courthouse in person, or using one of the statewide online portals that index Georgia court records. The clerk staff can pull case files, check court dates, and provide copies of criminal court documents during weekday business hours.

Candler County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Candler County is responsible for all criminal court records filed in the county. The office is at 35 S. College Street in Metter. You can call (912) 685-5257 to ask about a case or to check on a court date. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. The staff can search by name or case number. 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. Bring a valid ID if you plan to visit the courthouse.

Candler County is a smaller county, so the clerk office tends to handle both civil and criminal filings with the same staff. This can work in your favor if you need something quickly. Call ahead and the staff can often tell you over the phone if a criminal case is on file in Candler County.

The GSCCCA page for Candler County lists clerk contact info and connects to the statewide filing system.

Use the GSCCCA site to confirm the Candler County clerk address and phone number before you make a trip to Metter.

How to Search Candler County Criminal Records

There are a few ways to look up criminal court records in Candler County. Call the clerk at (912) 685-5257 and ask about a specific case. The staff can search by name or case number. You can visit the Metter courthouse during business hours for an in-person search. For online access, the statewide E-Access to Court Records portal connects to case data from courts across Georgia. An account is needed to use it.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. You can ask the Candler County Clerk for any criminal case file without giving a reason. The clerk must respond within three business days. Search fees cannot go past the prorated hourly rate of the lowest paid qualified employee. This law applies equally to Candler County and every other county in Georgia.

To search criminal records in Candler County, you should have:

• Full name of the person you are looking for
• Date of birth or age if you have it
• Case number if available
• Type of case, felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Cases in Candler County

Candler County Superior Court handles all felony criminal cases. Violent crimes, drug charges, and major theft go through this court in Metter. The District Attorney for the Middle Judicial Circuit prosecutes felony cases from Candler County along with cases from four other counties in the circuit. Magistrate Court handles preliminary hearings, bond settings, and county ordinance violations. Both courts create criminal court records that the Candler County Clerk stores and maintains at the courthouse.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This used to be called expungement. It applies to arrests without convictions, some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and dead docket cases older than 12 months. Candler County residents can contact the District Attorney to start the process for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, contact the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Each person is limited to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in a lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses cannot be restricted.

Note: Agencies may charge up to $50 to process a record restriction request in Georgia.

Candler County Records Online

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

For your own criminal history, visit the Candler County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains the process. Call the GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 with questions about your statewide criminal record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records are exempt from public access. Pending investigations, confidential informant data, and certain juvenile records fall under these protections. Once an investigation wraps up, the records become available.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can request criminal history records from the Georgia Crime Information Center for trial preparation. The request needs the case style, case number, and subject info. The fee is waived for defendants who cannot afford it. The Survivors First Act under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21 gives trafficking victims free record restriction through the GCIC. Time-expired restrictions may also apply if no disposition is reported within two years for misdemeanors or four years for felonies.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit stopped accepting email requests in December 2023, so use their portal or mail.

Cities in Candler County

All criminal cases from Candler County cities go through the Superior Court or Magistrate Court at the courthouse in Metter. The clerk office on South College Street handles all criminal case records for the county.

Cities and towns in Candler County include Metter and Pulaski. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Candler County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Candler County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime happened. Check the arrest location to find the right county for a case.