Grady County Criminal Court Records

Grady County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Cairo. Located in southwest Georgia near the Florida state line, Grady County processes felony and misdemeanor cases through its court system. The clerk office on North Broad Street is where all criminal case files are stored. You can search for criminal records by visiting the courthouse in person, calling the clerk, or using statewide online tools. Staff at the Grady County clerk office can pull case files, check court dates, and make copies of criminal records during regular business hours. Most basic requests can be handled the same day you visit.

Grady County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Grady County handles all criminal court records. The office is at 250 N. Broad Street in Cairo. You can call (229) 377-4621 to ask about a case or check on a court date. This is the main point of contact in Grady County for anyone who needs copies of criminal case files, wants to check the status of a case, or needs to look up court dates. Staff can search by name or case number. Bring a valid ID when you visit in person. Standard 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.

The GSCCCA page for Grady County shows the clerk contact details and links to filing info for this county.

The GSCCCA site confirms the clerk address and provides links to the county filing system for Grady County criminal records.

Note: Call the Grady County clerk office before visiting to confirm hours and staff availability.

Searching Grady County Criminal Records

You can search for criminal court records in Grady County several ways. The most direct path is to visit the clerk office in Cairo. Staff there can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you. You can also call (229) 377-4621 to ask about a specific case before making the trip. Written requests sent by mail to the North Broad Street address will get a response within three business days as required by Georgia law.

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 to give a reason. The clerk must respond to your request within three business days. This law covers Grady County and every other county in the state. If the clerk charges a fee beyond copy costs, it cannot go past the prorated hourly wage of the lowest paid employee who can do the search.

For online searches, Grady County does not have its own court records portal. Statewide tools are the next best option. The E-Access to Court Records portal connects you to case data from courts across Georgia. You need an account to use it. The system shows basic case info, court dates, and party names from courts that participate in the program.

Criminal Cases in Grady County

Grady County Superior Court takes felony cases. These include violent crimes, drug trafficking, armed robbery, and other serious charges. Misdemeanor cases go through State Court or Magistrate Court. DUI, simple assault, shoplifting, and minor drug charges are common misdemeanor matters handled in Grady County. Magistrate Court also deals with preliminary hearings and bond settings. Every court creates records that the Grady County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file.

Each step in a criminal case adds to the file. An arrest creates a booking record. Charges get filed with the court. Hearings produce minutes and orders. A trial generates a verdict and sentencing docs. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records stay off limits while a criminal investigation is still active. Once a case wraps up, most records become open to the public. Basic docket info and court dates in Grady County are usually available even for pending cases.

Note: Juvenile criminal cases in Grady County have different access rules and may not be open to public view.

Grady County Criminal Record Restriction

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 are hidden from public searches. Law enforcement and judges can still see them. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, this process applies to arrests that did not lead to a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Grady County residents can start the restriction process by contacting the District Attorney for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, go through the arresting law enforcement agency.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in a lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible. Agencies can charge up to $50 to handle the request. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own if the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final disposition within two years for a misdemeanor, four years for a felony, or seven years for a serious violent felony. Call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3 to check if your Grady County criminal record qualifies.

Grady County Records Online Access

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. While GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records, it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case files in Grady County. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month. Premium access runs $29.95 per month. The GSCCCA also runs the Filing Activity Notification System, a free service that lets you watch for new filings tied to your name across all Georgia counties.

For your own criminal history, visit the Grady 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 page has more info on how this works. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can also share criminal history data with attorneys who submit a written request with case details. Defense lawyers in Grady County use this when preparing for trial. The fee is waived for defendants who cannot afford to pay.

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

Cities in Grady County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Grady County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Cairo. The courthouse on North Broad Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Grady County include Cairo, Whigham, and Pine Park. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Grady County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Grady 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.