Access Clinch County Criminal Records
Clinch County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Homerville. This is a small, rural county in south Georgia, part of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. The clerk office on Court Square handles all criminal case filings, court dates, and docket data for the county. You can search for records by visiting the office in person or by using statewide online tools that cover all 159 Georgia counties. The clerk, Mary Ruth Handley, and her staff can look up cases by name or number, make copies, and answer questions about how to get criminal court records. Most in-person requests are handled the same day.
Clinch County Criminal Records Quick Facts
Clinch County Clerk of Court
Mary Ruth Handley is the Clerk of Superior Court in Clinch County. Her office handles all criminal court records in the county. The clerk office is at 25 Court Square, Suite C, in Homerville. Call (912) 487-5854 to check on a case or ask about a filing. The fax number is (912) 487-2316. You can also mail requests to PO Box 433, Homerville, GA 31634. This is the only courthouse in Clinch County. Every felony and misdemeanor case file, docket entry, and court date record comes through this office.
The GSCCCA page for Clinch County has the clerk contact details and links to statewide filing records.
Use this page to get the Clinch County clerk phone, address, and access to search tools that index records from across Georgia.
| Superior Court Clerk |
25 Court Square, Suite C Homerville, GA 31634 Phone: (912) 487-5854 Fax: (912) 487-2316 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 433, Homerville, GA 31634 |
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Judicial Circuit | Alapaha (Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, Lanier) |
Searching Clinch County Criminal Records
To search criminal court records in Clinch County, call or visit the clerk office in Homerville. Staff can look up cases by name or number. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. You do not need to explain your reason for the request. The clerk has three business days to respond. 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. In a small county like Clinch, most lookups take just a few minutes.
You can also mail a request to PO Box 433, Homerville, GA 31634. Include the full name of the person, their date of birth, and any case number you have. If you are not sure whether the case was filed in Clinch County, the clerk can often tell you based on the details you provide. Because the county has under 4,000 residents, the case volume is low, and staff usually know the local docket well.
Criminal Cases in Clinch County
Clinch County Superior Court handles felony cases. These include drug trafficking, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious charges. Misdemeanor cases go through the State Court or Magistrate Court. Magistrate Court also handles preliminary hearings, warrants, and bond settings. The Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney prosecutes felonies across five counties, including Clinch. Because this is a small county, court sessions may be less frequent than in metro areas. Call the clerk to find out when the next criminal court date is set.
Every criminal case creates records. An arrest happens. Charges get filed. The case moves through the system. Each step produces documents that the Clinch County Clerk stores. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records may be hidden from public view during an active investigation. Once the case closes, most records open up. Even pending cases have some info available, like basic docket data and court dates.
Note: Juvenile cases in Clinch County have different access rules and may be sealed from public view.
Clinch County Criminal Records Online
Clinch County does not run its own online court records system. 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 point you to the right clerk for criminal data in Clinch County. Regular accounts cost $14.95 per month. Premium runs $29.95. The E-Access to Court Records portal is another statewide tool. It pulls case data from participating courts. You need an account to search.
For your own criminal history, visit the Clinch County Sheriff's Office or a local police department and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains the process in detail. The GBI helpline is (404) 244-2639 option 3. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not result in a conviction may qualify. Certain misdemeanor convictions are eligible after four years. Clinch County residents start the process through the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney for arrests on or after July 1, 2013.
Restriction fees can be up to $50. The process takes two weeks to 90 days. Georgia limits you to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in your life. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses cannot be restricted. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own if no final case disposition reaches the state within the required time frames.
Cities in Clinch County
All criminal cases from towns in Clinch County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Homerville. The courthouse on Court Square is where all felony and misdemeanor filings from the county are processed.
Homerville is the county seat and largest town. Du Pont is another small community in the county. Criminal cases from all parts of Clinch County are handled at the Homerville courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Clinch 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.