Search Oglethorpe County Criminal Records

Oglethorpe County criminal court records are stored and managed by the Clerk of Superior Court in Lexington. This northeast Georgia county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its Superior Court and State Court systems. You can search for criminal court records by going to the courthouse on West Main Street or through online statewide tools. Oglethorpe County is a rural county with a smaller case volume than its neighbors closer to Athens, which means the clerk staff can often get to your request without a long wait. The office pulls case files, checks court dates, and provides copies of criminal records during regular hours.

Oglethorpe County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Oglethorpe County is the official custodian of all criminal court records filed in the county. The office is at 111 W. Main Street in Lexington. You can call (706) 743-5731 to ask about a criminal case, check on a filing, or find out about court dates. Staff at the clerk office can search for cases by name or number, pull the file, and make copies for you. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. The Oglethorpe County clerk office is smaller than some, but the staff are used to handling criminal record requests and can usually get you what you need on the same visit.

The GSCCCA page for Oglethorpe County shows the clerk contact info and connects to the statewide filing index that includes Oglethorpe County criminal court data.

This page gives you the Oglethorpe County clerk address and phone number. It also provides access to the statewide filing index from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, covering all 159 counties.

Searching Oglethorpe County Criminal Records

Going to the clerk office in Lexington is the most direct way to search criminal court records in Oglethorpe County. The staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies right then. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies 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, there may be a charge based on the lowest paid qualified employee's hourly rate. Most lookups at the Oglethorpe County clerk office take well under 15 minutes, so extra charges are unlikely.

You can also mail a request to 111 W. Main Street, Lexington, GA 30648. Include the full name of the person, any case numbers, and what type of records you need. Send payment for copies. The clerk has three business days to respond under Georgia's Open Records Act. Anyone can request these records. You do not have to give a reason.

These details help the clerk find what you need faster:

• Full name of the person you are searching for
• Date of birth or approximate age if known
• Case number if you have one
• Whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor

Note: If you are searching for a common name, providing a date of birth or other details helps narrow results in Oglethorpe County.

Criminal Cases in Oglethorpe County

Oglethorpe County Superior Court hears felony cases. Violent crimes, drug offenses, theft above certain dollar amounts, and other serious charges all go through this court. Misdemeanor cases are handled by State Court. Simple assault, minor drug possession, DUI, and criminal traffic offenses fall under State Court jurisdiction. Magistrate Court sets bonds and holds preliminary hearings. Each of these courts creates records that the Oglethorpe County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file.

A criminal case in Oglethorpe County follows the same steps as the rest of Georgia. The arrest comes first. Then charges are filed. Hearings and a possible trial follow. At every stage, documents get added to the case file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active criminal investigations stay out of public view. Once the investigation closes, the records open to the public. Basic docket info and court dates are generally available even for pending cases. The District Attorney handles felonies in the Northern Circuit, and the Solicitor General takes misdemeanors. Both offices produce records stored by the Oglethorpe County Clerk.

Oglethorpe County Records Online

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

The E-Access to Court Records portal links to case data from courts across Georgia. You need an account to search. For Oglethorpe County criminal records, this tool saves you a drive to Lexington. The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search tracks cases that went on appeal, including any from Oglethorpe County.

For your own criminal history, visit the Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. That is the standard process for getting your Georgia criminal record for personal use. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your statewide record. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some records can be restricted from public view. Arrests without conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after four years may qualify for restriction.

Criminal Record Restriction in Oglethorpe County

Record restriction is the Georgia process for sealing certain criminal history records from public view. It replaced the old term expungement. The record stays in the system but is not visible in public searches. Law enforcement and judges still have access. In Oglethorpe County, the process follows state rules. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, contact the District Attorney in the Northern Circuit to start the process. For older arrests, go through the arresting law enforcement agency. The fee can be up to $50, and processing takes from two weeks to 90 days.

Georgia allows each person to restrict up to two misdemeanor convictions in their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses cannot be restricted. Time-expired restrictions happen automatically in some cases. 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 record may be restricted on its own. To find out if your Oglethorpe County record qualifies, call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3.

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

Cities in Oglethorpe County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Oglethorpe County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Lexington. The courthouse on West Main Street handles felony and misdemeanor filings from the entire county.

Cities and towns in Oglethorpe County include Lexington, Crawford, Arnoldsville, and Maxeys. Criminal cases from all of these areas are processed through the Oglethorpe County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Oglethorpe 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.