Search Fayette County Criminal Records

Fayette County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the Justice Center in Fayetteville. This fast-growing county south of Atlanta processes a steady volume of felony and misdemeanor cases each year. You can search criminal records in person at the courthouse on Center Drive, or use statewide online tools for basic case lookups. The clerk office handles walk-in requests, copy orders, court date inquiries, and docket searches during regular business hours. Fayette County includes Fayetteville, Peachtree City, and several other communities, and all criminal cases from these areas go through the county court system.

Fayette County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Fayette County manages all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 1 Center Drive in Fayetteville. Call (770) 716-4290 to check on a case or ask about filing procedures. Staff can pull criminal case files, look up court dates, and make copies of documents. The Fayette County Justice Center is a newer building that houses the courts and clerk office under one roof. Walk-ins are welcome during normal hours. Most standard criminal record requests can be handled while you wait, though more involved searches or older files may take extra time.

The GSCCCA page for Fayette County lists the clerk contact details and connects to the statewide filing index that includes Fayette County court records.

From this page you can find the Fayette County clerk address, phone number, and links to the statewide records index maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

Note: The Fayette County Justice Center has visitor parking and is accessible from Highway 85 in Fayetteville.

How to Search Fayette County Criminal Records

Visiting the clerk office at 1 Center Drive in Fayetteville is the most direct way to search Fayette County criminal court records. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies right there. Copy fees in Georgia are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. After that, the office may charge based on the lowest paid employee's hourly rate. Most criminal record searches in Fayette County are simple and take just a few minutes, so there is rarely an extra fee for the search itself.

Criminal court records in Georgia are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. You can ask to see them. No reason is needed. The clerk must respond within three business days. This applies to Fayette County and every other county in the state. You can also mail a written request to the clerk at 1 Center Drive, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Include the person's full name, any case numbers you have, and a check or money order to cover copy fees.

These details help when you search for Fayette County criminal records:

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

Criminal Cases in Fayette County

Fayette County Superior Court takes felony cases. Violent crimes, drug trafficking, burglary, and theft over certain dollar amounts all go through this court. The State Court handles misdemeanor cases. Simple battery, minor drug possession, DUI, and criminal trespass are common misdemeanor charges in Fayette County. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings, bond settings, and warrant applications. Each court creates records that the Fayette County Clerk of Superior Court stores on file.

The District Attorney prosecutes felony cases in Fayette County, and the Solicitor General handles misdemeanors. Both offices generate documents that become part of the criminal court record. Fayette County is part of the Griffin Judicial Circuit, which includes neighboring Spalding County and shares some judicial resources. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active criminal investigations may be held from public view until the investigation wraps up. But basic court dates, docket data, and party names are usually available even while a case is still open in Fayette County.

Because Fayette County has a larger population than many Georgia counties, the court system processes more cases per year. This means longer dockets and sometimes longer wait times for case processing. The clerk staff is used to handling a high volume of requests and can usually point you in the right direction quickly.

Fayette County Records Online Access

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties, including Fayette County. GSCCCA mainly covers real estate and lien records, but it helps direct you to the right clerk for criminal case data. A regular account costs $14.95 a month and premium access is $29.95 per month. The E-Access to Court Records portal is another statewide option that lets you look up case data from courts across Georgia. You will need an account to search.

For your own criminal history, visit the Fayette 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. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. Arrests without a conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after four years may qualify. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, Fayette County residents start the restriction process through the District Attorney's office.

The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appellate cases. If a criminal case from Fayette County was appealed to the Supreme Court, you can find docket info through that portal. The GBI Criminal History page explains how to get your full criminal history report, which includes arrest data from Fayette County and every other county in Georgia.

Fayette County Criminal Record Restriction

Record restriction hides certain criminal records from public view in Georgia. The old term was expungement, but the state now uses restriction instead. The records still exist. They just do not show up in public searches anymore. Law enforcement and judges still have access. In Fayette County, the process works the same as the rest of Georgia. Arrests that did not result in a conviction can qualify. So can some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year waiting period if you have no other convictions on your record.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions over their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, contact the District Attorney in Fayette County. For older arrests, go through the arresting law enforcement agency. Agencies may charge up to $50 to process the request. The process takes between two weeks and 90 days. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own if the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final disposition within two years for a misdemeanor or four years for a felony.

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

Cities in Fayette County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Fayette County go through the Superior Court or State Court at the Justice Center in Fayetteville. Felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county are processed and stored at this one location.

Cities in Fayette County include Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Brooks, and Woolsey. Criminal cases from all these communities are handled by the Fayette County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fayette County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime took place. Check the arrest address to figure out which county handles the case.