Montgomery County Criminal Records Search

Montgomery County criminal court records are stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Mount Vernon. This rural southeast Georgia county processes felony and misdemeanor cases through its court system, and all criminal record keeping falls to the clerk. You can search for criminal court records by visiting the courthouse on Railroad Avenue or by using statewide search tools online. Montgomery County is one of the smaller counties in Georgia, so the clerk office tends to handle requests quickly. Staff can pull case files, look up court dates, and provide copies of criminal court records during business hours. Most visits are in and out.

Montgomery County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Montgomery County is the official keeper of all criminal court records filed in the county. The office is at 400 Railroad Avenue in Mount Vernon. Call (912) 583-4401 to ask about a criminal case or check on a filing. Staff at this office can search cases by name or number, pull case files, and make copies. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. Because Montgomery County is a small county, the clerk staff are often able to find records quickly and help you without much wait time.

The GSCCCA page for Montgomery County lists the clerk contact info and links to statewide filing data that includes Montgomery County.

This page shows the Montgomery County clerk address and phone number. It also connects you to the statewide filing index run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

How to Search Montgomery County Criminal Records

Going to the clerk office in Mount Vernon is the most direct way to search for criminal court records in Montgomery County. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. They make copies right there. Copy fees are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. After that, the office can charge based on the lowest paid employee's hourly rate. In Montgomery County, most lookups are done well within the free window.

You can also send a written request by mail. Address it to 400 Railroad Avenue, Mount Vernon, GA 30445. Include the full name of the person you are looking for, any case numbers you have, and what records you need. Put in payment for copies. The clerk has three business days to respond under Georgia's Open Records Act. This rule covers Montgomery County the same as all other Georgia counties.

It helps to have this info when you search:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if you have it
• Type of case (felony or misdemeanor)

Note: If you are not sure whether a case is in Montgomery County, check the location of the arrest to find the right county.

Criminal Cases in Montgomery County

Montgomery County Superior Court handles felony cases. Drug charges, violent crimes, theft above certain amounts, and other serious offenses go through this court. Misdemeanor cases like simple assault, minor drug possession, and traffic offenses land in State Court. Magistrate Court takes preliminary hearings and bond settings. Every one of these courts creates records that end up in the Montgomery County Clerk's files. Once a case wraps up, the records are public.

The criminal case process in Montgomery County works the same as anywhere else in Georgia. An arrest is made. Charges get filed. The case moves through the court. At each step, new records are created and stored. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active investigations stay out of public view. Once the case is closed, most files open up. The District Attorney handles felony prosecutions while the Solicitor General takes on misdemeanors. Both create documents that the Montgomery County Clerk stores.

Montgomery County Records Online

Montgomery County does not have its own online court records search. For online access, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. It mainly covers real estate and liens, but it can direct you to the right clerk for criminal records in Montgomery County. A regular account is $14.95 per month. Premium access costs $29.95.

The E-Access to Court Records portal is another statewide option for searching criminal records from Montgomery County. You need an account. The system shows basic case info, court dates, and party names from courts across Georgia. The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers cases that went to appeal, including any from Montgomery County.

For your own criminal history, go to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and request a Purpose Code U report. This is the way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 handles questions about your record statewide. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records can be restricted. Arrests that did not lead to conviction may qualify, as well as some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year waiting period.

Record Restriction in Montgomery County

Record restriction is how Georgia seals certain criminal records from public view. It used to be called expungement. The record does not get deleted. It gets hidden. Law enforcement and judges still have access to it. In Montgomery County, this process follows state rules. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, you go through the District Attorney. For older arrests, you contact the agency that made the arrest. Agencies can charge up to $50 to handle a restriction request, and it can take from two weeks to 90 days.

Georgia allows up to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per person for life. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses can never be restricted. Time-expired restrictions happen automatically sometimes. If the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final case disposition within two years for a misdemeanor, four years for a felony, or seven years for a serious violent felony, the record may be restricted on its own. To find out about your Montgomery County record, call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3.

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

Cities in Montgomery County

Criminal cases from all cities and towns in Montgomery County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Mount Vernon. The courthouse on Railroad Avenue is where felony and misdemeanor filings are handled.

Cities and towns in Montgomery County include Mount Vernon, Ailey, Higgston, Tarrytown, and Uvalda. Criminal cases from all of these areas are processed through the Montgomery County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery 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.