Search Hall County Criminal Records

Hall County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Gainesville, the county seat. The clerk's Criminal Division handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. You can search Hall County criminal records online through the clerk's website or visit the courthouse in person. The office also offers eCertification for certified copies around the clock. Mark Pettitt serves as Clerk of Superior Court and runs seven divisions that cover everything from criminal case filings to real estate records and traffic violations. Staff at the Criminal Division can help you find case files, check court dates, and get copies of criminal records tied to Hall County.

Hall County Clerk of Court

Mark Pettitt is the Clerk of Superior Court for Hall County. His office runs seven divisions: Civil, Criminal, Jury Duty and Courts, Real Estate, Records Management, Traffic Violations Bureau, and Board of Equalization. The Criminal Division is the one that handles felony and misdemeanor case filings for both Superior Court and State Court. This division also reports dispositions to the Department of Driver Services and the Georgia Crime Information Center. If a criminal case in Hall County results in a conviction, the data flows from this office into the statewide criminal history database.

The Hall County Clerk of Superior Court website is the main hub for all criminal court records and case info in Hall County.

From the clerk's site, you can search the online docket, find court forms, and link to the eCertification service. The site also lists payment options and office contacts for each division. 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 state a reason. The Hall County Clerk must respond to your request within three business days.

Note: Cash payments require change to be rolled in clear coin wrappers per Hall County policy.

Hall County Criminal Division

The Criminal Division inside the clerk's office is where all felony and misdemeanor cases are processed in Hall County. This division files new cases, tracks them through the court system, and records the final outcome. When a judge hands down a sentence or dismisses a charge, the Criminal Division logs that disposition. It then sends the data to two state agencies: the Department of Driver Services and the Georgia Crime Information Center. This means that criminal records from Hall County cases show up in statewide databases. Defense attorneys, prosecutors, and the public can all access these records through the clerk's office or online tools.

The Hall County Criminal Division page has details on how criminal cases move through the court system in this county.

This page covers case types, forms, and how to check on a criminal filing in Hall County. The division handles everything from drug charges and theft cases to assault and DUI. Superior Court takes felonies. State Court takes misdemeanors. Both feed into the same clerk system. You can search the docket from the clerk's homepage for civil and criminal cases in Hall County Superior and State Court. If you need certified copies, the eCertification portal runs around the clock. Standard copies cost $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free.

Hall County Records Management

The Records Management Division handles the storage and retrieval of older court documents in Hall County. This includes criminal case files that have been closed and moved to storage. If you are looking for a criminal record from several years ago, this division is the place to ask. They maintain the archives and can pull files that are no longer in the active docket system. The division works with both paper records and digital files. Newer cases are easier to find online, but older Hall County criminal records may need a staff member to search the physical archives.

The Hall County Records Management Division page explains how the clerk's office stores and retrieves court documents, including criminal case files.

From that page, you can learn about the retention schedule and how to request records that are no longer in the active system. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 lists specific exemptions where records can be kept from the public. Pending investigations are one. Confidential informant info is another. But once a criminal case is closed in Hall County, the file is open to anyone who asks for it.

Criminal Record Restriction in Hall County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This process used to be called expungement. It covers arrests that did not lead to a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Hall County residents can start the restriction process through the District Attorney's office in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit for arrests that happened on or after July 1, 2013. For arrests before that date, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. There is a lifetime limit of two record restrictions for misdemeanor convictions. Agencies may charge up to $50 to process the request.

For your own criminal history, visit the Hall County Sheriff's Office at 2859 Browns Bridge Road or call (770) 531-6885. Ask for a "Purpose Code U" report. This is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. 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. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about records statewide, including Hall County cases.

Hall County Criminal Case Resources

Several offices and agencies work with criminal court records in Hall County beyond the clerk. The Gainesville Municipal Court at 701 Queen City Parkway handles city ordinance violations and certain misdemeanor cases within Gainesville city limits. Call (770) 531-2668 for that court. Flowery Branch Municipal Court at 5410 Pine Street can be reached at (770) 967-6336, and Oakwood Municipal Court at 4035 Walnut Street at (770) 534-2364. These municipal courts handle their own case types, but felony cases always go through the Hall County Superior Court system.

Hall County Misdemeanor Probation is at 2314 Murphy Boulevard, reachable at (678) 997-2403. Felony Probation is at 1606 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard at (770) 535-5710. These offices can provide information about probation status and conditions for criminal cases in the county. The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal is another way to search criminal court records from Hall County and other Georgia counties. You need an account to search. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority also indexes filings from all 159 counties and can point you in the right direction for specific Hall County records.

Note: House Bill 1292 requires e-filing for self-filers in Hall County effective January 1, 2025.

Cities in Hall County

Hall County is in northeast Georgia with Gainesville as the county seat. All criminal cases filed in these cities go through the Hall County Superior Court or State Court system. The courthouse in Gainesville handles felony cases, and the State Court takes misdemeanors and traffic offenses.

Other cities and towns in Hall County include Flowery Branch and Oakwood. Criminal cases from those areas are handled by the Hall County court system. Each town has its own municipal court for city ordinance cases, but felony and misdemeanor charges go through the county courts in Gainesville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hall 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.