Search Houston County Criminal Records

Houston County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at 201 North Perry Parkway in Perry. The clerk office keeps files for felony and misdemeanor cases, and you can search these records online or in person at the courthouse. Houston County is part of the Houston Judicial Circuit and serves a growing area in central Georgia that includes Warner Robins, Perry, and Centerville. The criminal division has its own phone line and staff to help with case lookups, copy requests, and court date questions. You can also use the county website to find the State Court case search tool and other online services for criminal records in Houston County.

Houston County Criminal Court Clerk

Terri L. Childers is the Clerk of Superior Court in Houston County. Her office handles all criminal court records filed in the county. The courthouse sits at 201 North Perry Parkway in Perry. The main phone line is (478) 218-4720, and the criminal division has a direct line at (478) 218-4730. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Staff at the criminal desk can look up cases, check court dates, and pull copies of filed documents for you. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Bring a valid ID when you visit.

The Houston County Superior Court Clerk page is the main online hub for criminal court records and other clerk services in the county.

From this page, you can find division contacts, fee schedules, and links to online services for Houston County criminal records. The site also has details on eFiling and passport services.

Note: Passport services at the Houston County clerk office close at 4:00 PM, one hour before the rest of the office.

How to Search Houston County Criminal Records

You can search criminal court records in Houston County a few different ways. Online is the quickest. The county runs a State Court case search tool on its website where you can look up misdemeanor cases by name or case number. For Superior Court criminal cases, you can call the criminal division at (478) 218-4730 or visit the courthouse in Perry. The staff will search by name and pull up case details for you. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them without giving a reason.

The Houston County State Court Case Search lets you look up misdemeanor criminal cases online.

This search tool covers State Court cases in Houston County, which include most misdemeanor charges. You can search by party name or case number. The tool is free to use. For copies of criminal records, the Houston County clerk charges $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each page after that. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

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

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if you have it
• Case number if known
• Whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor
• Court type (Superior or State Court)

Criminal Cases in Houston County

Houston County courts handle criminal cases at two main levels. Superior Court takes all felony cases. These include violent crimes, drug charges above certain thresholds, burglary, and white collar offenses. The State Court handles misdemeanor cases like simple battery, minor drug possession, DUI, and criminal trespass. Both courts create criminal records that are stored and managed by the Houston County Clerk. Magistrate Court also plays a part by holding preliminary hearings and setting bail. All of these courts operate from the courthouse complex in Perry.

The Houston County District Attorney handles felony prosecutions. The Solicitor General manages misdemeanor cases in State Court. Their work generates the criminal court records that end up in the clerk files. When a case is resolved, whether by plea, trial, or dismissal, the final disposition goes into the court record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from ongoing criminal investigations may be exempt from public view until the investigation is done. Once a case goes to court, though, the records are generally open to the public.

Note: Magistrate Court in Houston County does not participate in the eFileGA system.

Houston County eFiling and Online Access

Houston County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic filing. The eFileGA portal lets attorneys and parties submit court documents online around the clock. Civil case eFiling has been required in Houston County since September 2017, and plat filings went mandatory in January 2017. Criminal case documents can also be filed through this system when applicable.

If you are a lawyer with pending cases in Houston County, you should have received login credentials by email. Do not create a new account if you already have pending matters. The system will link your cases to your existing profile. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, Superior Court Clerks in Georgia may offer public access to view cases and eFiled documents through their websites. Houston County provides this through the State Court case search tool and the clerk page.

The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal connects to case data from counties across Georgia, including Houston County. You need an account to search. The GSCCCA also indexes filings from all 159 counties. While GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records, it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case files in Houston County. A regular account runs $14.95 per month.

Houston County Criminal Record Restriction

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This process used to be called expungement. It covers arrests that did not result in a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases placed on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Houston County residents can start this process through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, contact the arresting agency.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in a lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses cannot be restricted. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process the request, plus additional fees for state database updates. Time-expired restrictions happen automatically in some cases. For misdemeanors, the window is two years without a final disposition. Felonies have a four-year window, and serious violent felonies have a seven-year window. These automatic restrictions only apply when the Georgia Crime Information Center has not received a final court disposition within the time frame.

For your own criminal history in Houston County, visit the local 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 statewide, including cases that started in Houston County. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can also request criminal history data from the GCIC with a written request that includes case details and subject information.

Houston County Government Resources

The Houston County government website is a good starting point for anyone who needs criminal court records or other public data in the county.

The county site has links to courts, the sheriff, the District Attorney, and other offices that deal with criminal cases. You can find department hours, phone numbers, and service details all in one place. Houston County also posts meeting agendas and policy updates on this site. The sheriff's office in Houston County can help with warrant checks and arrest records. For background checks, contact the sheriff directly or go through the GBI's criminal history process.

Cities in Houston County

Criminal cases filed in Houston County cities go through the Superior Court or State Court system at the courthouse in Perry. All felony and misdemeanor cases from across the county are processed here.

Other cities in Houston County include Perry and Centerville. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Houston County court system as well.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Houston 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.