Haralson County Criminal Court Records

Haralson County criminal court records are stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Buchanan. This west Georgia county sits near the Alabama state line and processes felony and misdemeanor cases through its court system. The clerk office on GA Highway 120 is where all criminal case files are kept. You can search for criminal records by visiting the courthouse, calling the clerk, or using statewide search tools that cover Georgia courts. Staff at the Haralson County clerk office can pull case files, look up court dates, and make copies of criminal records during regular business hours. Most basic requests get filled the same day you visit.

Haralson County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Haralson County handles all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 4485 GA Highway 120 in Buchanan. Call (770) 646-2005 to ask about a case, check a court date, or find out what you need to bring for a records request. Staff can search by name or case number and give you copies while you wait. This is the only location in Haralson County where you can pull criminal case files, file court documents, or request copies of criminal records.

Haralson County is part of the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit. The District Attorney for this circuit handles felony prosecutions from Haralson County and the neighboring counties in the circuit. Each county clerk keeps its own criminal court files. If your case started in Haralson County, the Buchanan office is where you need to go.

The GSCCCA page for Haralson County lists the clerk contact details and links to filing data.

Through the GSCCCA site, you can confirm the clerk address and find links to the filing system for Haralson County criminal records.

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

Searching Haralson County Criminal Records

You can search for criminal court records in Haralson County in a few ways. Call the clerk at (770) 646-2005 and ask about a specific case. Staff can tell you what is on file. You can also visit the courthouse in Buchanan during business hours to search in person. Copy fees in Georgia run $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 can charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee able to do the work.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. No reason is needed. The Haralson County clerk must respond within three business days. You can submit your request in person, by phone, by fax, or by mail to the Highway 120 address. Written requests work well if you are not close to Buchanan.

For online searches, the E-Access to Court Records portal connects to courts across Georgia. You need an account. The system shows basic case info, court dates, and party names. This is a way to check a case in Haralson County without making the drive.

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

• Full name of the person you are looking for
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if one is available
• Type of case, felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Cases in Haralson County

Haralson County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases. Drug trafficking, armed robbery, murder, burglary, and other serious offenses all go through Superior Court in Buchanan. Misdemeanor cases like DUI, simple assault, shoplifting, and minor drug charges are handled by State Court or Magistrate Court. Magistrate Court also holds preliminary hearings and sets bonds for criminal defendants. All of these courts generate records that the Haralson County Clerk of Superior Court maintains at the courthouse.

Each step in a criminal case creates documents that go into the court file. An arrest produces a booking record. Charges are filed. Hearings generate orders. Trials result in verdicts and sentencing records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active criminal investigations may be exempt from public view until the case wraps up. Once a case is closed, most records become available to anyone who asks. Basic docket info and court dates in Haralson County are usually available even for pending matters.

Haralson County Record Restriction

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This 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. Haralson County residents can begin the restriction process by contacting the District Attorney for the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. Agencies can charge up to $50 to handle the request, and the process takes two weeks to 90 days.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in a lifetime. Violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible. Time-expired restrictions can 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. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about Haralson County criminal record restriction.

Note: Victims of trafficking may qualify for free record restriction under the Survivors First Act, O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21.

Haralson County Records Online

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

For your own criminal history, visit the Haralson 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. 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. Defense lawyers in Haralson County use this path when they prepare for trial in the Tallapoosa circuit. The fee is waived for defendants who cannot afford it. The GSCCCA also has a Filing Activity Notification System that is free and lets you track new filings tied to your name across all Georgia counties.

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

Cities in Haralson County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Haralson County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Buchanan. The courthouse on GA Highway 120 handles all felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Haralson County include Buchanan, Bremen, Tallapoosa, and Waco. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Haralson County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Haralson 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.