Find Criminal Records in Elbert County

Elbert County criminal court records are filed and stored at the Superior Court Clerk office in Elberton. The clerk handles all felony and misdemeanor case data for the county, and most records can be searched in person at the courthouse on Oliver Street. Elbert County sits in northeast Georgia along the South Carolina border, and its court system processes criminal cases from Elberton and the surrounding rural areas. You can get copies of case files, check court dates, and look up docket info through the clerk staff. Online tools at the state level also give you a way to search Elbert County criminal court records from home without making the trip to Elberton.

Elbert County Court Clerk Office

Leigh W. Starrett serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Elbert County. Her office is the main point of contact for anyone who needs criminal court records from this county. The clerk office sits at 12 S. Oliver St. in Elberton. You can call (706) 283-2005 to ask about a case or check on a filing. The fax number is (706) 213-7286. Staff at this office can pull case files, look up court dates, and make copies of criminal records. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. Most basic requests can be handled the same day you stop by, though more involved searches may take a bit longer if the files are older or stored off-site.

The GSCCCA page for Elbert County lists the clerk contact details and links to statewide filing records that include Elbert County criminal court data.

From this page you can find the clerk address, phone, and fax for Elbert County. It also connects you to the statewide index of filings maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

Note: Bring a valid photo ID when you visit the Elbert County clerk office for criminal records in person.

Searching Elbert County Criminal Records

There are a few ways to search for criminal court records in Elbert County. The most direct is to go to the clerk office in Elberton. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. They can make copies right there. Copy fees run $0.10 per page for standard copies under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. After that, the office may charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid staff member who can do the work. Most simple criminal record lookups in Elbert County take well under 15 minutes.

You can also mail a written request to the clerk office at 12 S. Oliver St., Elberton, GA 30635. Include the full name of the person, any case numbers you have, and the type of records you want. Enclose a check or money order for copy fees. The clerk must respond within three business days under Georgia law. This applies to Elbert County the same as every other county in the state.

To search criminal records in Elbert County, you will need:

• Full name of the person you are looking for
• Date of birth or approximate age if known
• Case number if you have it
• Type of case (felony or misdemeanor)

Criminal Cases in Elbert County

Elbert County Superior Court handles felony cases. These include violent crimes, drug charges, theft over certain dollar amounts, and other serious offenses that carry prison time. The State Court takes misdemeanor cases like simple assault, minor drug charges, and criminal traffic offenses. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings and bond settings. Each court creates records that the Elbert County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file. All of these records are public once the case is done, with some limits on pending investigations.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active criminal investigations are exempt from public view. Once the investigation wraps up, most records open to the public. Basic docket info and court dates are typically available even during an open case in Elbert County. The District Attorney prosecutes felony cases, and the Solicitor General handles misdemeanor prosecutions. Both offices work out of the Elbert County courthouse and create records that become part of the criminal court file.

Elbert County Records Online

Elbert County does not run its own online court records portal. For online access, you can use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. GSCCCA focuses mainly on real estate and lien records, but it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case data in Elbert County. A regular account costs $14.95 a month and premium access runs $29.95 per month.

The E-Access to Court Records portal is another option. This statewide system connects you to case data from courts across Georgia. You need an account to search. For Elbert County criminal records, this can be a good way to check case status from home rather than driving to Elberton. The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appellate cases if a criminal matter from Elbert County was appealed to a higher court.

For your own criminal history, visit the Elbert County 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, including cases that started in Elbert County.

Criminal Record Restriction in Elbert County

Record restriction is how Georgia limits public access to certain criminal history records. It used to be called expungement. The records still exist, but they get hidden from public searches. Law enforcement and judges can still see them. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify for restriction. Certain misdemeanor convictions can be restricted after a four-year waiting period. Cases placed on the dead docket for more than 12 months may also qualify. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, contact the District Attorney in Elbert County to start the process. For older arrests, go through the arresting law enforcement agency.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible for restriction. Agencies can charge up to $50 to handle the request. The whole process takes anywhere from two weeks to 90 days. Time-expired restrictions can also happen automatically if the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final disposition within two years for a misdemeanor or four years for a felony. To check if your Elbert County criminal record qualifies, call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts record requests by email, so use their online portal or mail your request.

Cities in Elbert County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Elbert County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Elberton. The courthouse on Oliver Street is the main location for felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Elbert County include Elberton, Bowman, and Dewy Rose. Criminal cases from all of these areas are processed through the Elbert County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Elbert 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.