Pierce County Criminal Court Records

Pierce County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Blackshear. This southeast Georgia county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its local court system. You can search for criminal records by calling clerk Thomas W. Sauls at the office on Highway 84, visiting the courthouse in person, or using statewide online search tools that cover all Georgia counties. The clerk staff can pull case files, look up court dates, and make copies of criminal court records during business hours. Blackshear is the county seat and the hub for all Pierce County criminal filings.

Pierce County Criminal Court Clerk

Thomas W. Sauls serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Pierce County. His office handles every criminal court record that comes through the county court system. The clerk office is at 3550 Hwy 84 in Blackshear. Call (912) 449-2020 to check on a case or ask about a filing. The fax number is (912) 449-2106. This is the office in Pierce County where you go for copies of criminal case files, court date lookups, and document filings tied to criminal matters. Pierce County is part of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, which means some judges and court resources are shared with nearby counties. But the criminal records stay in Blackshear.

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

You can use this page to verify Pierce County clerk details and find tools for searching the county's criminal records through the statewide system.

How to Search Pierce County Criminal Records

The fastest way to get criminal court records from Pierce County is through the clerk office in Blackshear. Call (912) 449-2020 or stop by the courthouse on Highway 84. The staff can search by name or case number and pull what you need. Copies cost $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. Pierce County has a lower case volume than metro counties, so most lookups go quickly. You can also fax a request to (912) 449-2106 or mail one to 3550 Hwy 84, Blackshear, GA 31516.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. You can ask for them without giving a reason. The Pierce County clerk has three business days to respond. This is the same rule across all 159 Georgia counties. The Open Records Act covers criminal case files, docket information, court orders, and other documents in the court record. Records tied to an active investigation or sealed by a judge may not be available right away.

To search criminal records in Pierce County, bring or provide:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if known
• Case number if you have it
• Type of charge or case

Criminal Cases in Pierce County

Pierce County Superior Court takes felony cases. Drug charges, violent crimes, armed robbery, burglary, and other serious offenses go through Superior Court. The State Court handles misdemeanors. DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and lower-level drug cases are State Court matters. Magistrate Court holds preliminary hearings and bond settings. All three courts create criminal records that the Pierce County Clerk keeps on file in Blackshear. The Waycross Judicial Circuit serves Pierce County, and the circuit's judges rotate through the county on a set schedule.

Each criminal case follows the same basic path. An arrest happens. Charges get filed. The case moves through the system with hearings, motions, and either a plea or a trial. Every step adds documents to the court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records stay exempt while a case is under active investigation. Once the case is done, most of those records open up to the public. Basic court dates and docket info are usually available even for open cases in Pierce County.

Note: Pierce County's rural setting means the court calendar moves at a different pace than urban counties, and the clerk staff can often handle requests same day.

Pierce County Records Online Access

Pierce County does not have its own online court records portal. For online access, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 counties. While the GSCCCA mainly covers real estate and lien data, it can help you find the right clerk for criminal records in Pierce County. A regular account is $14.95 a month and premium is $29.95 per month. The E-Access to Court Records portal connects to case data from Georgia courts. You need an account to search. This is a good way to check Pierce County criminal case status from home.

For your own criminal history, visit the Pierce County Sheriff's Office and request a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains the statewide process for getting your record. Call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records can be restricted from public view. This applies to arrests with no conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait. Pierce County residents file through the DA's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. The fee can run up to $50. Georgia allows two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per person. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible.

The GBI Open Records Unit no longer takes requests by email as of December 2023. Use the portal at gbigeorgia.govqa.us or mail requests to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can also get criminal history data from the Georgia Crime Information Center with a written request that includes case details and subject info. Defense lawyers in Pierce County use this path when they prepare for trial.

Cities in Pierce County

All criminal cases from Pierce County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Blackshear. The courthouse on Highway 84 handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Pierce County include Blackshear, Patterson, and Offerman. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Pierce County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pierce County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the arrest took place. Check the location of the alleged crime to determine which county holds the record.