Search Douglas County Criminal Court Records

Douglas County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse on Hospital Drive in Douglasville. This west metro Atlanta county sits in the Douglas Judicial Circuit, and the clerk's office stores all felony and misdemeanor case files. You can search Douglas County criminal records through the online Web Search tool or call the courthouse to ask about a case. The clerk staff can look up court dates, pull case files, and make copies for you. Walk-in service is available on weekdays. If you need criminal case data, warrant info, or a copy of a court record from Douglas County, the clerk's office on Hospital Drive is where to start.

Douglas County Criminal Court Clerk

Annetta Danley Stembridge serves as the Clerk of Superior Court for Douglas County. Her office handles all criminal court records in the county. The main courthouse is at 8700 Hospital Drive in Douglasville. Staff there can pull case files, check court dates, and give you copies. The main switchboard is (770) 920-7252. For criminal case info, use extension 7352 or 7388. If you need to ask about a criminal warrant, call extension 7332. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The filing clerk for both civil and criminal matters can be reached at extension 7202.

The Douglas County Clerk of State Court page has info on misdemeanor cases, traffic citations, and state court proceedings in the county.

From this page you can find details on how the State Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases in Douglas County. Traffic citations can be paid online through PayYourTix.com. The State Court traffic and payment window has its own phone line at (678) 626-5634. You can also call (770) 489-5232 or (770) 489-5231 for help with traffic matters. These phone lines are separate from the Superior Court clerk staff.

Note: The courtroom clerks for each judge have their own direct extensions, so call the switchboard and ask for the right one if you need a specific judge's office.

How to Search Douglas County Criminal Records

The fastest way to look up criminal court records in Douglas County is through the online Web Search tool. This system lets you search by name or case number from home. When searching by name, you must type it as LAST NAME, FIRST NAME. The tool shows case status, court dates, and some filed documents. It is a good first step. But the online tool does not replace the full official file held by the clerk. If you need a certified copy or a complete record, contact the office by phone or go in person at the Douglasville courthouse.

The Douglas County Web Search portal gives you direct access to look up criminal court records and other case data online in the county.

Douglas County residents can also sign up for FANS, the Filing Activity Notification System run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority. This free service lets you track filings tied to your name or property across all 159 Georgia counties. It covers real estate and personal property records. If someone files a lien or deed that touches your name, FANS sends you an alert. While FANS does not track criminal court records directly, it is a useful tool for keeping tabs on court activity that could link back to a criminal case. Sign up is free at fans.gsccca.org.

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 for your request. The agency must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free.

Douglas County Criminal Case Types

Several courts handle criminal matters in Douglas County. The Superior Court takes felony cases. These are the most serious charges, like violent crimes, drug trafficking, and major theft. Three Superior Court judges sit in Douglas County. Judge David T. Emerson's courtroom clerk can be reached at extension 7337 through the main switchboard. Judge Cynthia Adams is at extension 7365. Judge William McClain is at extension 7421. Each judge has a courtroom clerk who tracks that judge's criminal case docket.

The State Court handles misdemeanor cases in Douglas County. These cover offenses like DUI, simple assault, minor drug possession, and petty theft. State Court criminal matters go through a separate set of judges and staff. The State Court also handles traffic citations. If you got a ticket in Douglas County, you can pay it online or call the traffic window. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings, bond matters, and warrant applications. Together, all of these courts create criminal records that the Douglas County Clerk stores and maintains.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This process used to be called expungement. It applies to 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. Douglas County residents can start this process through the prosecuting attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013.

Douglas County Court Filing Fees

Filing fees in Douglas County changed on July 1, 2024. Civil cases now cost $218.00 to file, up from $211.00. Trade name filings are $175.00, and notary applications cost $55.00. These fees apply to civil filings, not criminal charges. Criminal case costs are set by statute and vary by charge type. But if you need to file a motion in a criminal case or request copies, the clerk can tell you the exact cost.

E-filing is mandatory for civil cases in Douglas County. Real estate filings go through simplifile.com or by calling 1-800-460-5657. Lien filings use efileregistry.org or 1-800-304-5174. While criminal cases are not filed electronically by members of the public, attorneys may use the Odyssey eFileGA system for certain filings. 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.

Note: Notary applicants in Douglas County must now pass a criminal background check from local law enforcement as of July 1, 2024.

Douglas County Criminal Record Resources

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

The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal is another way to search criminal court records in Douglas County. This system connects you to case data from counties across Georgia. You need an account to use it. A regular GSCCCA account runs $14.95 per month. Premium access costs $29.95 per month. These tools can help when you need to search records across more than one county.

Douglas County also has resources for people who need help with protective orders. The Douglas County Task Force can be reached at 678-715-1196. S.H.A.R.E. House is at 770-949-0626. Both groups help victims of domestic violence get temporary protection orders through the court system. These orders become part of the criminal court record in Douglas County, and the clerk transmits civil protective orders to the GSCCCA.

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 Douglas County use this path when they prep for trial. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process a record restriction request, and the process can take anywhere from two weeks to 90 days.

Restricting Criminal Records in Douglas County

Georgia uses "record restriction" instead of expungement. The criminal record gets hidden from public view but stays on file for law enforcement. Not all records qualify. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. Certain misdemeanor convictions may qualify after four years from when you finished your sentence, as long as you have no other convictions. Georgia limits each person to two record restrictions for misdemeanor convictions.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply through the arresting law enforcement agency. For arrests on or after that date, contact the prosecuting attorney in the county where the arrest took place. In Douglas County, that means reaching out to the District Attorney's office in Douglasville. Victims of trafficking may qualify for free record restriction under the Debbie Vance Act at O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21. There is no fee for that type of request.

Cities in Douglas County

Douglas County sits on the west side of metro Atlanta. All criminal cases filed in these areas go through the Douglas County court system at the Hospital Drive courthouse in Douglasville. The clerk handles records for every city and town in the county.

Other towns in Douglas County include Lithia Springs, Chapel Hill, and Winston. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Douglas County court system as well.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Douglas 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.