Find Charlton County Criminal Records

Charlton County criminal court records are filed and stored by the Clerk of Superior Court in Folkston. This is a small, rural county in southeast Georgia, right along the Florida border near the Okefenokee Swamp. Criminal cases in Charlton County go through the Waycross Judicial Circuit court system. You can get copies of case files, check court dates, and look up criminal records at the clerk office on 3rd Street. Statewide online tools also give you access to some Charlton County criminal case data from home. The clerk staff is small but can handle most requests while you wait if you visit in person.

Charlton County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the keeper of all criminal court records in Charlton County. The office sits at 1520 3rd Street in Folkston. You can call (912) 496-2354 to check on a case or ask about a filing. This is a one-courthouse county. All felony and misdemeanor case files, court dates, and docket info come through this one office. The staff can search by name or case number and make copies for you. Business hours are Monday through Friday. Bring a valid ID if you plan to visit in person.

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

Use this page to find the clerk phone number, address, and links to statewide search tools that include Charlton County criminal records.

Note: Charlton County is part of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, so the District Attorney in Waycross handles felony prosecutions here.

How to Search Charlton County Criminal Records

The easiest way to search for criminal court records in Charlton County is to call or visit the clerk office in Folkston. Tell them the name of the person or the case number you need. Staff can pull the file and make copies. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. You do not need to explain why you want them. The clerk must respond within three business days. 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.

You can also mail a written request to the clerk at 1520 3rd Street, Folkston, GA 31537. Include the full name of the person, their date of birth if you know it, and any case number you have. The more detail you give, the faster the clerk can find what you need. Charlton County is a small county, so the staff usually knows the local docket well and can turn around requests quickly.

Criminal Cases in Charlton County

Charlton County Superior Court hears felony cases. These include drug trafficking, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious charges. The State Court handles misdemeanors. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings, warrants, and bond settings. Each of these courts creates criminal records that the Charlton County Clerk keeps on file. Because this is a smaller county, the volume of cases is lower than metro areas, but the same rules apply. Every criminal case creates a paper trail that becomes part of the public record once the case is no longer under active investigation.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records stay out of public view while a case is still being investigated. Once the case wraps up, the records open up. Basic docket info and court dates are typically available even during an open case. Charlton County sits near the Florida border, and some cases involve cross-state issues. If an arrest happened in Charlton County, the criminal case file stays here regardless of where the suspect lives.

Note: Juvenile criminal cases in Charlton County follow different rules and may not be available to the public.

Charlton County Criminal Records Online

Charlton County does not have its own online court records portal. For online access, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 counties. While GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records, it can help you find the right clerk for criminal data in Charlton County. A GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month for regular access and $29.95 for premium. The E-Access to Court Records portal is another option. You need an account to search, but it pulls case data from courts across the state.

For your own criminal history, visit the Charlton County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains how to get your Georgia criminal record, including cases from Charlton County. Call the GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about your record. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records can be restricted from public view. This covers arrests that did not result in a conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after four years. Charlton County residents start the restriction process through the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney for arrests on or after July 1, 2013.

Agencies can charge up to $50 for a restriction request. The process takes from two weeks to 90 days. Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible. Time-expired restrictions may happen automatically if the state does not receive a final disposition within the set time frames.

Cities in Charlton County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Charlton County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Folkston. The courthouse on 3rd Street handles felony and misdemeanor filings from the entire county.

Folkston is the main town in Charlton County. Homeland is another small community in the area. Criminal cases from all parts of Charlton County are processed through the county court system in Folkston.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Charlton 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.