Murray County Criminal Court Records

Murray County criminal court records are filed and stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Chatsworth. This northwest Georgia county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its Superior Court and State Court systems. You can search for criminal court records by visiting the courthouse on North 4th Avenue or through statewide online tools that cover all Georgia counties. The clerk staff in Murray County can pull criminal case files, check upcoming court dates, and provide copies of documents from the court record. Murray County is part of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit, and the same judges may hear cases from neighboring counties in that circuit. Most basic requests at the clerk window get handled quickly.

Murray County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Murray County manages all criminal court records filed in the county. The office is at 121 N. 4th Avenue in Chatsworth. Call (706) 695-2932 to check on a case or ask about a filing. This is where you go for copies of criminal case files, court date lookups, and document filings tied to criminal matters in Murray County. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. You do not need to set up an appointment for a basic criminal records search. If you need older records that might be archived, give the office a call first so staff can have the file ready when you arrive.

The GSCCCA page for Murray County lists the clerk contact details and connects to the statewide filing index that includes Murray County criminal court data.

From this page, you can get the Murray County clerk address and phone number. The page also connects to the statewide index of filings maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority across all 159 counties.

How to Search Murray County Criminal Records

Visiting the clerk office in Chatsworth is the most direct way to search for criminal court records in Murray County. The staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you right then. Copy fees 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 office can charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid qualified employee. Most simple lookups in Murray County take well under 15 minutes, so extra search fees are rare.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are open to the public. Anyone can request them. You do not need to explain why. The agency has three business days to respond. Mail requests work too. Send them to 121 N. 4th Avenue, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Include the person's full name, case numbers if you have them, and a check or money order for copy fees.

Having these details will help your search go faster at the Murray County clerk office:

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

Note: If you only have a partial name, the clerk may still be able to help, but results could include multiple people.

Criminal Cases in Murray County

Murray County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases. These cover violent crimes, drug trafficking, theft above certain dollar thresholds, and other offenses that carry prison time. The State Court takes misdemeanors. Simple assault, minor drug charges, DUI, and criminal traffic matters go through State Court. Magistrate Court handles preliminary hearings and bond matters. All of these courts generate records that the Murray County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file. Once a case ends, the records are public with a few exceptions.

A criminal case in Murray County follows the same general process as other Georgia counties. An arrest happens. The state files charges. The case goes through court proceedings. Each step adds records to the file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from open criminal investigations are exempt from public view. After the investigation closes, the records typically become public. Even for pending cases, basic docket info and court dates are usually available to anyone who asks at the Murray County clerk office.

Murray County Criminal Records Online

Murray County does not run its own online court records search. For online access, statewide tools are available. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. It focuses on real estate and lien records, but it can help you identify the right clerk for criminal case data in Murray County. A regular account is $14.95 per month. Premium access is $29.95.

The E-Access to Court Records portal is another option. This statewide system links to court data from across Georgia. You need an account to search. For Murray County criminal records, this lets you check case status from home instead of driving to Chatsworth. The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appeals, so if a Murray County case went higher, you can track it there.

For your own criminal history, go to the Murray County Sheriff's Office and request a Purpose Code U report. That is the standard process in Georgia for getting your own criminal record. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can help with questions about your statewide record. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify, along with some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year waiting period.

Record Restriction in Murray County

Georgia's record restriction process limits who can see certain criminal history records. It is not the same as deleting the record. The file stays in the system but gets sealed from public searches. Law enforcement and judges keep access. In Murray County, restrictions follow state rules. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, start with the District Attorney. For older arrests, contact the agency that arrested you. The fee can be up to $50, and the process takes two weeks to 90 days.

Each person in Georgia can restrict up to two misdemeanor convictions in their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are never eligible for restriction. Time-expired restrictions can also happen automatically. If the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final 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 check your Murray County record, call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit does not take email requests anymore, so use their online portal or mail.

Cities in Murray County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Murray County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Chatsworth. The courthouse on North 4th Avenue handles felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Murray County include Chatsworth, Eton, and Spring Place. Criminal cases from all of these areas are handled by the Murray County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Murray 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.