Cherokee County Criminal Court Records

Cherokee County criminal court records are filed and stored at the Frank C. Mills III Justice Center in Canton. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps all felony and misdemeanor case files for this fast-growing north Georgia county. You can search Cherokee County criminal records through the clerk's online case search tool or visit the Canton courthouse in person. The clerk also runs a satellite office in Woodstock for some services. Cherokee County sits in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, which means criminal cases here go through a specific set of judges and court staff. If you need a case file, court date, or copy of a criminal record from Cherokee County, the clerk's office is the place to start.

Cherokee County Court Clerk Office

Patty Baker serves as the Clerk of Superior Court for Cherokee County. Her office handles all criminal court records in the county, from new case filings to old docket entries. The main office is on the ground floor of the Frank C. Mills III Justice Center at 90 North Street in Canton. Staff can pull case files, check court dates, and make copies. The main phone line is 678-493-6511. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, which run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can also email the clerk at pbaker@cherokeega.com if you have a question about a Cherokee County criminal case.

The Cherokee County Clerk of Superior Court website is the main hub for criminal court records, forms, and contact info in Cherokee County.

From the clerk site you can find links to the case search tool, contact numbers for each court division, and details about filing fees. The Cherokee County Clerk's office also has a satellite location at 155 Towne Lake Pkwy, Second Floor, in Woodstock, GA 30188. This annex handles some clerk services closer to the south end of the county. If you live near Woodstock, call ahead to make sure the service you need is available at the annex before you drive over.

Note: The Woodstock annex may not offer all services found at the Canton courthouse, so call 678-493-6511 first to confirm.

How to Search Cherokee County Criminal Records

There are two main ways to search for criminal court records in Cherokee County. The online case search is the fastest option. You can look up cases by name or case number from your home. The tool shows case posture, which means it tells you the parties, court dates, and judge assignment for a given case. It is a good starting point. But the online tool is not a full replacement for the official file held by the Clerk of Court. If you need a complete and certified record, contact the office directly or visit in person at the Canton courthouse.

The Cherokee County case search portal gives you direct access to look up criminal court records and other case types online.

Through this portal you can check case status, view filed documents, and look up court dates for Cherokee County criminal cases. Some documents are hidden from online view. These hidden pleadings may contain sensitive data that the court has blocked from the internet. To see those documents, you must visit the clerk's office in Canton. 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. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, and copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies.

Cherokee County also charges its own copy fees. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each page after that. These fees apply when you request copies in person at the clerk's office in Canton.

Cherokee County Criminal Case Courts

Several courts handle criminal matters in Cherokee County. Each one creates records that the clerk stores and maintains. The Superior Court takes felony cases. These are the most serious criminal charges, including violent crimes, drug trafficking, and major theft. You can reach the Superior Court Criminal Division at (678) 493-6505. The court sits at 90 North Street, Suite G-170 in Canton. Felony cases in Cherokee County move through the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, which also covers Fannin and Gilmer counties.

The State Court deals with misdemeanor cases. These are less serious offenses like minor drug possession, DUI, simple assault, and petty theft. The State Court Criminal Division phone is (678) 493-6550. That court is at 90 North Street, Suite 160 in Canton. Below that, Magistrate Court handles preliminary hearings, bond matters, and warrant applications. Reach the Cherokee County Magistrate Court at (678) 493-6431. It sits at Suite 150 of the same building. All of these courts are inside the Frank C. Mills III Justice Center, which makes it easy to handle multiple court matters in one trip.

Cherokee County also has a Juvenile Court and a Probate Court. Juvenile Court handles cases for minors. Call (678) 493-6560 or email juvenileclerks@cherokeega.com. Probate Court is at (678) 493-6160. Juvenile records are not open to the public in most cases. 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 on the dead docket for more than 12 months.

Note: The fax number for all Cherokee County courts at the Justice Center is (770) 479-0467.

Cherokee County Criminal Record Resources

Beyond the clerk's office, several other agencies work with criminal court records in Cherokee County. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office handles arrests, warrants, and jail operations. If you want your own criminal history, you can visit the sheriff's office and ask for a "Purpose Code U" report. This is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your record statewide, including cases from Cherokee County.

The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal is another way to search criminal court records in Cherokee County. This system connects you to 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 Cherokee County use this path when they prep for trial. Attorneys can also file documents through the Odyssey eFileGA system. E-FileGA is available for Civil Divisions of State, Superior, and Magistrate Courts in Cherokee County. 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.

Restricting Criminal Records in Cherokee County

Georgia calls its expungement process "record restriction." This means the criminal record is hidden from public view but stays on file for law enforcement and courts. Cherokee County residents who want to restrict a record need to go through the right process based on when the arrest happened. For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply through the arresting law enforcement agency. For arrests on or after that date, contact the prosecuting attorney's office in the county where the arrest took place.

Not all records qualify. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. Certain misdemeanor convictions may qualify after four years have passed since you finished your sentence, as long as you have no other convictions. Georgia limits each person to two record restrictions for misdemeanor convictions total. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process a restriction request. The process can take two weeks to 90 days. If you have questions about whether your Cherokee County case qualifies, talk to a local attorney or call the GBI at (404) 244-2639.

Victims of trafficking may qualify for free record restriction under the Debbie Vance Act, found at O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21. This applies when the conviction happened as a direct result of being trafficked. There is no fee for this type of request.

Note: Time-expired restrictions may still show up on FBI or out-of-state background checks, so the formal application process is best for a complete restriction.

Cities in Cherokee County

Cherokee County includes several cities and towns spread across north metro Atlanta. All criminal cases filed in these areas go through the Cherokee County court system at the Frank C. Mills III Justice Center in Canton. The Woodstock annex also serves residents in the south part of the county.

Other cities and towns in Cherokee County include Holly Springs, Ball Ground, Waleska, and Nelson. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Cherokee County court system as well.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cherokee 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.