Catoosa County Criminal Court Records

Catoosa County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court in Ringgold. This northwest Georgia county sits along the Tennessee border and is part of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. Felony and misdemeanor cases filed in Catoosa County move through the Superior Court and State Court systems at the courthouse on Lafayette Street. You can search criminal case data by going to the clerk office or by using statewide online tools. The clerk staff can look up case files, check court dates, and make copies of criminal records during normal business hours. Most basic requests get handled on the spot when you walk in.

Catoosa County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court handles all criminal court records in Catoosa County. The office is at 875 Lafayette Street in Ringgold. Call (706) 935-4231 to ask about a case or check on a filing. This is where you go to get copies of criminal case files, look up court dates, and file documents tied to a criminal matter. Staff there can search by name or case number. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday, and most simple requests can be done while you wait.

The GSCCCA page for Catoosa County lists clerk contact info and links to filing records for the county.

From that page you can find the clerk's address, phone number, and links to statewide search tools that cover Catoosa County criminal records.

Note: Bring a valid photo ID when you visit the Catoosa County clerk office for criminal records in person.

Searching Catoosa County Criminal Records

There are a few ways to search for criminal court records in Catoosa County. The most direct way is to visit the courthouse in Ringgold. Staff at the clerk office can pull case files and make copies. Copy fees in Georgia run $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. The first 15 minutes of staff time are free. After that, the office can charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can do the work. Most lookups in Catoosa County take less than 15 minutes, so there is often no added charge for the search.

Criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not have to say why you want them. The clerk must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. This rule covers Catoosa County and every other county in the state. You can also mail a written request to the clerk office at 875 Lafayette Street if you cannot come in person. Include as much detail as you can about the case or person you are looking for.

To search criminal records in Catoosa County, you will need:

• Full name of the person you are searching for
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if you have one
• Type of case, such as felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Cases in Catoosa County

Catoosa County Superior Court handles felony cases. These include drug charges, violent crimes, theft above certain dollar amounts, and other serious offenses. The State Court takes misdemeanor cases like simple assault, minor drug charges, and criminal traffic matters. Both courts sit at the courthouse in Ringgold. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings, warrants, and bond settings. Each court creates records that the Catoosa County Clerk keeps on file. The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney prosecutes felony cases in Catoosa County along with Chattooga, Dade, and Walker counties.

Cases in Catoosa County follow a standard Georgia path. An arrest takes place. Charges get filed. The case moves through the court. Each step creates records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records stay out of public view while a case is under active investigation. Once the case ends, most records become open. Basic docket data and court dates are usually available even during an open case in Catoosa County.

Note: Juvenile cases in Catoosa County have different access rules and may not be open to public view.

Catoosa County Records Online

For online access to criminal records from Catoosa County, you can use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records but can point you to the right clerk for criminal case data in Catoosa County. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month. Premium access runs $29.95 per month. The E-Access to Court Records portal is another statewide tool that connects you to case data from courts across Georgia. You need an account to search.

For your own criminal history, visit the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. That is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. The GBI Criminal History page has details on how this works. You can also call the GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3. They can answer questions about your record statewide, including cases from Catoosa County.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This applies to arrests that did not lead to a conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait. Catoosa County residents start the restriction process through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, you go through the arresting agency. Agencies can charge up to $50, and the process takes two weeks to 90 days. Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible for restriction.

Criminal Record Restriction in Catoosa County

Record restriction is what Georgia calls the process of limiting public access to certain criminal history records. It used to be called expungement. The records still exist, but they get hidden from public searches. Law enforcement and judges can still see them. In Catoosa County, the process works the same as the rest of the state. Time-expired restrictions can happen on their own too. If the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final case disposition within two years for a misdemeanor, four years for a felony, or seven years for a serious violent felony, the record may be restricted automatically.

To check if your Catoosa County criminal record qualifies for restriction, call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3 or visit gbi.georgia.gov/criminal-history for more info. The GBI Open Records Unit no longer takes requests by email as of December 2023, so use their online portal or mail your request to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30037-0808.

Cities in Catoosa County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Catoosa County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Ringgold. The courthouse on Lafayette Street is the main location for felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Catoosa County include Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, and Tunnel Hill. Criminal cases from all of these areas are processed through the Catoosa County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Catoosa 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.