Search Clarke County Criminal Records
Clarke County criminal court records go back to December 24, 1960 and are kept by Clerk Elisa Zarate at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse on East Washington Street. Athens and Clarke County operate as a unified government, so this one clerk office covers the whole area. You can call (706) 613-3190 and press 2 for the criminal division. The office handles felony cases through Superior Court and misdemeanors through State Court, both under the Western Judicial Circuit. Pre-1992 criminal records are hand-written docket books only, so those take more time to pull. For newer cases, the clerk staff can search by name or case number and give you copies during regular business hours.
Clarke County Criminal Records Quick Facts
Clarke County Clerk of Court
Clerk Elisa Zarate runs the Clarke County Clerk of Superior and State Courts office. Chief Deputy Tiffany Treadway assists with day-to-day operations. The office sits at 325 E. Washington Street, Room 450, Athens, GA 30601. The main line is (706) 613-3190. Press 2 for criminal, 3 for civil, and 4 for real estate. The criminal division has dedicated staff for both Superior Court and State Court cases. Hope Sadler serves as Senior Deputy Clerk for Superior Court Criminal matters. Dawn Reidling handles State Court Criminal cases. You can ask for either one by name when you call.
The Athens-Clarke County Clerk of Court website is the main hub for criminal records and court services in Clarke County.
The clerk site has info on filing fees, staff contacts, and links to search tools for Clarke County criminal court records. You can also find notary forms and jury service details on the same site.
| Clerk Office |
325 E. Washington Street, Room 450 Athens, GA 30601 Phone: (706) 613-3190 |
|---|---|
| Criminal Division | Press 2 at main number |
| Clerk | Elisa Zarate |
| Chief Deputy | Tiffany Treadway |
| Jury Message Line | (706) 613-3199 |
Note: Pre-1992 Clarke County criminal records exist only as hand-written docket books and may take extra time to retrieve.
Clarke County Courts and Criminal Cases
Clarke County is part of the Western Judicial Circuit, which also covers Oconee County. The Superior Court handles felony criminal cases. That includes violent crimes, drug charges, and other serious offenses. Superior Court also has specialty programs like the Felony Drug Court, Treatment and Accountability Court, and Veterans Court. These programs create their own set of court records tied to the original criminal case. The State Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, DUI cases, and appeals from Magistrate Court. Both courts feed their records into the same clerk office on Washington Street.
The Athens-Clarke County Courts page lists all courts in the county and what types of cases each one handles.
From this page, you can find contact info, hours, and descriptions for each court in Clarke County that deals with criminal matters. The Magistrate Court assists the public, police agencies, and attorneys with both criminal and civil cases. You can reach the Magistrate Court Clerk at (706) 613-3690 or mail requests to P.O. Box 1868, Athens, GA 30603. Municipal Court handles county ordinance violations, state misdemeanor traffic violations, and certain misdemeanor crimes like theft by shoplifting, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, and underage possession of alcohol. The Municipal Court Clerk is also at (706) 613-3690.
Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. The agency must respond within three business days. Copy fees run $0.10 per page for standard copies. The first 15 minutes of search time are free.
How to Search Clarke County Criminal Records
You have a few options for searching criminal court records in Clarke County. In person is the most direct route. Go to the clerk office at 325 E. Washington Street, Room 450, during weekday business hours. Bring a valid ID. Staff can search by name or case number and pull the files you need. For copies, expect to pay $0.10 per page. There is no charge for the first quarter hour of staff search time under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. If the records you want are from before 1992, keep in mind those are hand-written docket books and may take longer.
The GSCCCA page for Clarke County shows clerk details and links to statewide search tools that cover filings from this county.
The GSCCCA indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. While it focuses on real estate and liens, it can point you to the right office for criminal records in Clarke County. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month. Premium access runs $29.95 per month. For statewide criminal case searches, the Georgia E-Access to Court Records portal is another option. You need an account to use it.
To look up criminal records in Clarke County, you will need:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth if you have it
- Case number if one was given
- Which court handled the case (Superior, State, Magistrate, or Municipal)
Clarke County Criminal Record History
Clarke County criminal records go back to December 24, 1960. Everything from that date forward is on file with the clerk. Records before 1992 are in hand-written docket books. These are not digitized. A clerk staff member has to pull the physical book and look through it by hand. This takes more time than a digital search. If you need old records, call ahead so the office can have them ready for you. Records from 1992 onward are in the electronic system and can be searched much faster.
Traffic violation records in Clarke County cover a specific window. The clerk has traffic records from December 31, 1960 through June 30, 1985. After July 1, 1985, traffic cases moved to the State Court or Municipal Court. If you need a traffic record from before that date, ask the clerk office. For anything after, check with State Court at (706) 613-3190 press 2, or Municipal Court at (706) 613-3690. This split can be confusing, but the clerk staff is used to it and can point you in the right direction.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify. So can some misdemeanor convictions after four years. Cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months are also eligible. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not. You can only restrict up to two misdemeanor convictions in your lifetime. For arrests in Clarke County before July 1, 2013, start with the arresting agency. For arrests on or after that date, contact the District Attorney for the Western Judicial Circuit.
Athens-Clarke County Government Resources
The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government website is the central hub for all county services, including courts and criminal records.
The county site has links to every court, the sheriff, the District Attorney, and other offices that deal with criminal cases in Clarke County. You can find department hours, phone numbers, and service details all in one place. The unified government structure means there is one website for both city and county services, which makes it simpler to find what you need.
For your own criminal history, visit a local law enforcement office in Clarke County. Ask for a "Purpose Code U" report. This is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. The report pulls from the Georgia Crime Information Center and shows arrest data, charges, and court outcomes from across the state. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your statewide record. The GBI Open Records Unit takes requests through their online portal only. They stopped accepting email requests in December 2023.
Note: Agencies in Georgia may charge up to $50 to process a criminal record restriction request under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37.
Cities in Clarke County
Athens is the main city in Clarke County. The Athens-Clarke County unified government merged the city and county into one. All criminal cases in the Athens area go through the Clarke County Superior Court or State Court system. The courthouse on East Washington Street handles felony and misdemeanor cases for the entire consolidated area.
Other small communities in Clarke County include Winterville and Bogart. Criminal cases from these areas go through the Clarke County court system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Clarke 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.