Chatham County Criminal Court Records
Chatham County criminal court records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court office in downtown Savannah. The clerk keeps files for all felony and misdemeanor cases that go through the court system in this coastal Georgia county. You can search Chatham County criminal records online through the clerk's website or the courts portal, and in-person requests are handled at 133 Montgomery Street. The office also runs a satellite location on Eisenhower Drive for Board of Equalization matters. Savannah is the county seat and the main hub for all court filings in Chatham County. Criminal case data, court dates, and docket info are all on file with the clerk staff.
Chatham County Criminal Records Quick Facts
Chatham County Criminal Court Clerk
Tammie Mosley serves as Clerk of Superior Court for Chatham County. Her office handles all criminal court records in the county. The main phone line is (912) 434-8920. Press 4 for criminal case info. You can also press 1 for civil and domestic matters, press 5 for appeals, or press 6 for notary questions. The criminal division staff can pull case files, check court dates, and make copies for you. Walk-ins are welcome at the main office on Montgomery Street in Savannah during regular business hours on weekdays. The office closes on all major state holidays.
The Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court website is the main source for criminal court records and case info in the county.
From the clerk site, you can find forms, staff contacts, and links to search Chatham County criminal records online. Sherron Davis serves as the Assistant Chief Deputy for the Criminal Division and Appeals. She handles day-to-day work on criminal case files. Chief Deputy Steffi Yellin runs the full office under Clerk Mosley. Other key staff include Robin Osborne for real estate and archives, Courtney Middleton for civil cases and the Board of Equalization, and DeLeah Blake for court services and adoptions.
| Main Office |
133 Montgomery Street, Room 304 Savannah, GA 31401 Phone: (912) 434-8920 (Press 4 for Criminal) |
|---|---|
| Board of Equalization |
1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite C Savannah, GA 31406 Phone: (912) 447-4950 Fax: (912) 447-4955 |
| Mailing Address |
P.O. Box 10277 Savannah, GA 31412 |
| Clerk | Tammie Mosley, Clerk of Superior Court |
Note: The Board of Equalization satellite office on Eisenhower Drive does not handle criminal court records directly.
Search Chatham County Criminal Records
There are a few ways to look up criminal court records in Chatham County. The fastest way is online. The clerk runs a website where you can search case data from home. You can also use the Chatham County courts portal for case lookup. In person, go to 133 Montgomery Street in Savannah. Staff at the criminal division can search by name or case number. They can pull files and make copies for you. Bring a valid ID when you visit. For phone requests, call (912) 434-8920 and press 4 to reach the criminal division staff.
The Chatham County Courts portal gives you access to search criminal court records and check case status online.
Through this portal, you can check case status, view docket entries, and look up criminal court dates in Chatham County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need a reason. The agency must respond within three business days. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.
To search criminal records in Chatham County, you will need:
- Full name of the person you are looking for
- Date of birth or rough age if you have it
- Case number if one is known
- Type of case such as felony or misdemeanor
Chatham County Criminal Case Types
Chatham County sits in the Eastern Judicial Circuit. The court system here handles many types of criminal cases each year. Superior Court takes felony cases. These include violent crimes, drug charges, theft over a certain amount, and white collar crimes. State Court deals with misdemeanor criminal cases. Magistrate Court handles small claims, warrant applications, and preliminary hearings. Probate Court works on wills, estates, and marriage licenses. Juvenile Court covers cases with minors. Each of these courts creates criminal court records that the Chatham County Clerk keeps on file.
The Chatham County government website has links to all county departments and court services.
From this site, you can find contact info for courts, the sheriff, the district attorney, and other offices that deal with criminal cases in Chatham County. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This used to be called expungement. It covers arrests that did not lead to a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases placed on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Chatham County residents can start this process through the District Attorney's office for arrests that took place on or after July 1, 2013. For arrests before that date, contact the arresting law enforcement agency.
Note: Agencies in Georgia may charge up to $50 to process a criminal record restriction request.
Criminal Records Resources in Chatham County
Several offices in Chatham County work with criminal court records beyond the clerk. The District Attorney handles felony cases in Superior Court. The Solicitor General takes misdemeanor cases in State Court. Both offices create records that end up in the clerk's files. The Chatham County Sheriff's Department handles warrants, court security, and jail operations. You can get your own criminal history by visiting a local sheriff's office or police department and asking for a "Purpose Code U" report. This is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use.
The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal is another way to search criminal court records in Chatham County. This system lets you look up case data from counties across Georgia. You need an account to search. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority also indexes filings from all 159 counties. While GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records, it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case files. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month, and premium access runs $29.95 per month.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can share criminal history data with attorneys who submit a written request with case details and subject info. Defense lawyers in Chatham County use this path often when they prep for trial. Fees for this service are required, but they are waived for indigent defendants. In civil actions, criminal records are available with written consent or for felony convictions only.
Chatham County Criminal History Checks
The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your record statewide, including cases that started in Chatham County. The Georgia Crime Information Center keeps a database of arrest records, dispositions, and correctional data from all 159 counties. A Georgia criminal history record includes your name, date of birth, arrest data with charges, court dispositions, and any time served in a state facility.
The Chatham County Board of Equalization site handles property-related matters but is part of the clerk's office structure.
While this satellite office does not deal with criminal cases directly, it falls under Clerk Mosley's authority and shares the same main phone line at (912) 434-8920. For criminal court records, always press 4 when you call. The Board of Equalization office has its own direct line at (912) 447-4950.
To correct errors on your criminal history in Chatham County, contact the arresting law enforcement agency or the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC lobby is open by appointment only for record inspections and fingerprint services. Call (404) 244-2639 option 1 for an appointment. The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts requests by email as of December 2023. Use their online portal or mail your request to the GBI Open Records Unit, Legal Division, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034.
Chatham County Record Restriction
Record restriction in Georgia is the process of sealing certain criminal history records from public view. Law enforcement and judges can still see restricted records, but they will not show up on most background checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you may be able to restrict your record if you were arrested but not convicted, if your conviction was vacated or reversed on appeal, or if your case sat on a dead docket for over 12 months. Certain misdemeanor convictions can also be restricted after four years have passed since you completed your sentence, as long as you have no other convictions during that time.
Georgia limits you to two record restrictions for misdemeanor convictions over your lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible for restriction. For Chatham County cases, the process starts at the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. Processing times range from two weeks to ninety days depending on the case. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own after set periods: two years for misdemeanors, four years for felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies if no disposition has been sent to GCIC.
Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, Superior Court Clerks in Georgia may offer public access to view cases and eFiled documents through their websites. The Chatham County Clerk uses this authority to provide online access to criminal court records. eFiling is also an option through the Odyssey eFileGA system. Attorneys and case parties can file motions and documents online rather than going to the courthouse in Savannah. This creates a digital trail that becomes part of the criminal court record.
Note: Victims of trafficking may qualify for free record restriction under the Debbie Vance Act, O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21.
Cities in Chatham County
Chatham County covers the Savannah metro area and the surrounding coastal region. All criminal cases filed in these cities go through the Chatham County Superior Court or State Court system. The courthouse on Montgomery Street in Savannah is the main location for felony and misdemeanor case processing.
Other cities and towns in Chatham County include Garden City, Bloomingdale, Thunderbolt, Tybee Island, and Port Wentworth. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Chatham County court system as well.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Chatham 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 crime is said to have occurred.