Search Peach County Criminal Records

Peach County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Fort Valley. This middle Georgia county processes felony and misdemeanor cases through its court system, and the clerk office keeps all criminal filings on file. You can search for criminal records by calling clerk Joe Wilder's office on West Church Street, visiting in person, or using statewide online search tools. The staff can pull case files, check court dates, and provide copies of criminal court records during regular business hours. Fort Valley is the county seat, and all criminal filings from across Peach County come through this one courthouse location.

Peach County Criminal Court Clerk Office

Joe Wilder serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Peach County. His office handles all criminal court records that come through the county court system. The clerk office is at 205 West Church Street in Fort Valley. Call (478) 825-5331 to check on a case or ask about a filing. The fax line is (478) 825-8662. This is the one office in Peach County where you can get copies of criminal case files, look up court dates, and file documents tied to a criminal matter. Staff are on site during regular hours and can help with most requests the same day.

The GSCCCA page for Peach County shows the clerk contact info and provides links to the county filing system through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

From the GSCCCA site, you can verify Peach County clerk office details and get pointed toward the right tools for searching criminal records in the county.

Searching Criminal Records in Peach County

The most direct way to search Peach County criminal records is through the clerk office in Fort Valley. Call (478) 825-5331 or visit the courthouse on West Church Street. Staff can search by name or case number and pull the documents you need. Georgia law sets copy fees at $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of staff search time cost nothing. After that, the office may charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can do the work. Peach County has a moderate case load, so most requests get handled fairly fast.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. You do not need to explain why you want them. The Peach County clerk must respond to your request within three business days. You can ask in person, by phone, by fax, or by mail. Send written requests to 205 West Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030. The Georgia Open Records Act gives you the right to inspect and copy criminal court files that are not sealed or under active investigation.

Note: Fax requests to Peach County should go to (478) 825-8662 with your name, contact info, and the case details you are looking for.

Criminal Cases in Peach County

Peach County Superior Court handles felony cases. Violent crimes, drug trafficking, burglary, and other serious charges all go through Superior Court. The State Court takes misdemeanor cases like simple assault, DUI, minor theft, and lower-level drug offenses. Magistrate Court holds bond hearings and preliminary hearings for criminal matters. Each of these courts creates criminal records that the Peach County Clerk keeps on file. Since Peach County shares the Houston Judicial Circuit, some court resources overlap with neighboring counties, but filings stay specific to the county where the arrest took place.

Every criminal case in Peach County starts with an arrest. Charges are filed. The case moves through hearings, motions, and eventually a plea deal or trial. Each step produces documents that become part of the court record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records are exempt from public view while an investigation is still active. Once the case concludes, most records open up. Basic docket information and court dates are usually available even for open cases in Peach County, though access to certain documents may be limited until the matter is resolved.

Peach County Records Online

Peach County does not run its own online court records portal. For online searches, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. While GSCCCA mainly covers real estate and lien records, it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case data in Peach County. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 a month, and premium access is $29.95 per month.

The E-Access to Court Records portal connects to case data from courts across Georgia. You need an account to search. For Peach County criminal records, this is a good way to check case status from home without driving to Fort Valley. The system shows basic case info, court dates, and party names from participating courts.

For your own criminal history, go to the Peach County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains the statewide process. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This applies to arrests with no conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait. Peach County residents start the restriction process through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. Agencies can charge up to $50. Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions total. Call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about your record.

Peach County Court Resources

The GBI Open Records Unit handles requests for state-level criminal history data. As of December 2023, this unit no longer takes email requests. Use their online portal at gbigeorgia.govqa.us or mail your request to the GBI at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. This applies to anyone looking for criminal history records from Peach County or anywhere else in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can also share criminal history data with attorneys who submit a written request with case details and subject info.

Peach County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic court filings. Attorneys and parties to a case can file motions and documents online rather than visiting the courthouse in Fort Valley. This system runs around the clock and creates a digital record that becomes part of the criminal court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, clerks may offer public access to view eFiled documents through their websites.

Note: Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are never eligible for record restriction in Georgia, no matter where the case was filed.

Cities in Peach County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Peach County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Fort Valley. The courthouse on West Church Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and towns in Peach County include Fort Valley and Byron. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Peach County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Peach County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the arrest took place. If you are not sure which county handles a case, check the address where the alleged crime happened.