Search Putnam County Criminal Records

Putnam County criminal court records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse on South Jefferson Avenue in Eatonton. This central Georgia county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its local court system. You can search for criminal records in Putnam County by calling the clerk office, visiting in person, or using Georgia's statewide online tools. Staff can pull case files, check on court dates, and give you copies of criminal court records during regular hours. Eatonton is the county seat and the location where all Putnam County criminal filings are stored and managed.

Putnam County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Putnam County manages all criminal court records filed in the county. The office is at 100 S. Jefferson Avenue in Eatonton. Call (706) 485-4501 to ask about a case, check on a filing, or find court date info. Staff can search records by name or case number and pull the documents you need. Putnam County is part of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit, which means judges and some court resources are shared with neighboring counties. All criminal records filed in Putnam County stay right here at the clerk office in Eatonton.

The Georgia Crime Information Center page on the GBI website explains how criminal history data flows through the state system, including records from Putnam County.

The GCIC collects criminal history from all 159 Georgia counties. This includes arrest data, court dispositions, and corrections info from Putnam County cases.

Note: The GSCCCA page for Putnam County also lists clerk details and links to the county filing system.

Searching Putnam County Criminal Records

Getting criminal court records from Putnam County starts with the clerk office in Eatonton. Call (706) 485-4501 to ask about a case. Staff can look up records by name or case number. If you need copies, the fee is $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. Most basic lookups in Putnam County take less than that. You can also visit the courthouse on South Jefferson Avenue during business hours or send a written request by mail to the Eatonton address.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask for them without a reason. The Putnam County clerk has three business days to respond. This rule applies across all Georgia counties. The Open Records Act lets you inspect and copy criminal case files, court orders, docket info, and other documents. Records from active investigations or sealed by a judge may not be available until the case ends.

To search Putnam County criminal records, it helps to have:

• Full name of the person you want to look up
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if you have one
• Whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Cases in Putnam County

Putnam County Superior Court handles felony cases. Drug trafficking, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious charges all go through Superior Court. The State Court takes misdemeanors. DUI, simple assault, minor theft, and lower-level drug charges are State Court matters. Magistrate Court deals with bond settings and preliminary hearings. All of these courts create criminal records that the Putnam County Clerk manages in Eatonton. The Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit serves this county, and the circuit judges rotate through on a regular schedule.

Every criminal case in Putnam County follows the same basic steps. An arrest happens. Charges get filed. The case moves through hearings, motions, and then either a plea deal or a trial. Each step creates documents that become part of the court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records may be exempt while an investigation is still active. Once the case ends, most records open for public review. Basic court dates and docket info are usually accessible even for pending cases in Putnam County.

Putnam County Records Online

Putnam County does not run 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. 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 courts across Georgia. You need an account to search. For Putnam County criminal records, these tools let you check case status from home without driving to Eatonton.

For your own criminal history, visit the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page has more info. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some records can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction and certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait may qualify. Putnam County residents start the restriction process through the DA's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. Agencies may charge up to $50. Georgia allows a maximum of two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per person. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are never eligible.

The GBI Open Records Unit no longer takes email requests as of December 2023. Use the portal at gbigeorgia.govqa.us or mail your request to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. The GBI helpline is (404) 244-2639 option 3. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can request criminal history data with a written request that includes case details.

Cities in Putnam County

All criminal cases from Putnam County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Eatonton. The courthouse on South Jefferson Avenue handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Putnam County include Eatonton. Criminal cases from across the county are processed through the Putnam County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Putnam County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the arrest happened. If you are unsure which county holds the record, check where the alleged crime took place.