Find Criminal Records in Harris County

Harris County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Hamilton. Located in west-central Georgia near Columbus, Harris County processes felony and misdemeanor criminal cases through its local court system. The clerk office on South College Street is where all criminal case files are stored and maintained. You can search for criminal records by visiting the clerk in person, calling ahead, or using statewide online search tools. Harris County clerk staff can pull case files, verify court dates, and provide copies of criminal court documents during regular business hours.

Harris County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Harris County keeps all criminal court records. The office is at 102 S. College Street in Hamilton. Call (706) 628-5044 to ask about a case or check a court date. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies while you wait. This is the only office in Harris County where you can get criminal case files, check case status, or file documents tied to a criminal matter. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours.

Harris County is part of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, which also includes Muscogee County and several other counties in the Columbus area. The District Attorney for this circuit handles felony prosecutions from Harris County. Each county clerk in the circuit maintains its own set of criminal court files, so for Harris County cases, the Hamilton office is the right place.

The GSCCCA page for Harris County lists the clerk contact info and links to filing data for the county.

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

How to Search Harris County Criminal Records

The most direct way to search criminal court records in Harris County is to visit the clerk office in Hamilton. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you. You can also call (706) 628-5044 before making the trip. 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 county can charge the prorated hourly wage of the lowest paid employee who can do the search.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public records. Anyone can ask to see them without giving a reason. The Harris County clerk must respond within three business days. You can make your request in person, by phone, or by mail to the South College Street address in Hamilton.

For online access, the E-Access to Court Records portal connects to courts across Georgia. You need an account to search. The system shows case info, court dates, and party names from participating courts. This can save you a trip to Hamilton if all you need is to check on a case status in Harris County.

Criminal Cases in Harris County

Harris County Superior Court handles felony cases. Violent crimes, drug charges, armed robbery, and other serious offenses go through this court in Hamilton. Misdemeanor cases like DUI, simple assault, and minor drug charges are processed through State Court or Magistrate Court. Magistrate Court also handles preliminary hearings and bond settings. All of these courts create records that the Harris County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file.

Every step in a criminal case adds documents to the court file. The arrest creates a booking record. Charges are filed. Hearings produce orders. If the case goes to trial, there will be a verdict and sentencing docs. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records are off limits while a criminal investigation is still active. Once a case is resolved, most records become public. Criminal cases in Harris County follow the same basic path as the rest of Georgia. The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit DA handles all felony prosecutions, while the county clerk stores and maintains the resulting court files.

Note: Juvenile criminal cases in Harris County have different access rules and may not be available to the public.

Harris County Record Restriction

Georgia law allows certain criminal records to be restricted from public view. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, the restriction process covers arrests that did not result in a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Harris County residents can start the process through the District Attorney for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. Agencies may charge up to $50 to process the request.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. Time-expired restrictions can happen automatically if GCIC 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 on your Harris County criminal record status.

Harris County Criminal Records Online

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

For your own criminal history, visit the Harris 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 full details on how this works. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can also request criminal history records from the Georgia Crime Information Center for trial preparation. Defense lawyers in Harris County use this when preparing for cases in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. The fee is waived for defendants who cannot pay.

The GSCCCA runs the Filing Activity Notification System, a free service that lets you monitor filings tied to your name across all Georgia counties. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, the Harris County clerk may offer access to eFiled documents through the Odyssey eFileGA system.

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

Cities in Harris County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Harris County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Hamilton. The courthouse on South College Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Harris County include Hamilton, Pine Mountain, Shiloh, Waverly Hall, and West Point (partly). Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Harris County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Harris 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.