Screven County Criminal Court Records

Screven County criminal court records are filed and stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Sylvania. This east Georgia county is part of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit and has a population of about 10,400. Criminal cases from across the county get processed at the courthouse on Mims Road. You can search for Screven County criminal records in person, by phone, or through Georgia's statewide online tools. The clerk staff handles felony and misdemeanor case lookups, provides copies of court documents, and answers questions about pending cases. Court docket days follow the Ogeechee Circuit schedule since the judge serves multiple counties in the circuit.

Screven County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Screven County manages all criminal court records filed in the county. The clerk office is at 216 Mims Road, Sylvania, GA 30467. Call (912) 564-2614 for case inquiries or to ask about a filing. Hours run Monday through Friday. Staff at the office can pull case files, check court dates, and provide copies of criminal records. Since Screven County is part of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit alongside Bulloch, Effingham, and Jenkins counties, the Superior Court judge rotates through the area. But all Screven County case files stay with the clerk in Sylvania.

The GSCCCA page for Screven County provides the clerk contact info and links to the county filing indexes through the state cooperative authority.

From this page you can confirm Screven County clerk details and access the filing data the GSCCCA maintains for all 159 Georgia counties.

Note: Call ahead to make sure the clerk staff is available if you plan to visit late in the day.

Searching Screven County Criminal Records

The quickest way to start is to call the clerk at (912) 564-2614. Staff can search by name or case number and tell you what is in the file. If you need copies, Georgia law sets the fee at $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. You can also walk into the courthouse on Mims Road or send a written request by mail. Fax works if the clerk provides a fax number when you call.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can request them. The Screven County clerk must respond within three business days. You do not have to say why you want the records. The Open Records Act gives you the right to look at and copy court files that are not sealed or part of an active investigation.

For online searches, Screven County residents can use the E-Access to Court Records portal. You need an account to search. The GSCCCA also indexes filings from all Georgia counties, including Screven. A regular account costs $14.95 per month. Premium access is $29.95. These tools give you a way to check on Screven County criminal cases from home.

Criminal Cases in Screven County

Screven County Superior Court takes felony cases. Drug trafficking, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary all go to Superior Court. Misdemeanors like DUI, simple battery, shoplifting, and minor drug charges are handled by the State Court. Magistrate Court deals with bond hearings and preliminary matters. The Ogeechee Judicial Circuit covers Screven, Bulloch, Effingham, and Jenkins counties. The circuit judge sets criminal docket days for each county, so Screven County's court calendar follows the circuit rotation. All courts create records that the Screven County Clerk stores in Sylvania.

Every criminal case in Screven County begins with an arrest. Charges are filed. Then hearings, motions, and either a trial or plea deal follow. Each step puts documents into the case file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from open investigations can be held back from the public while the investigation is active. Once a case closes, the full file is open for review. Basic docket data and court dates are typically available even during active proceedings in Screven County.

The Screven County court system also handles probation matters that stem from criminal cases. If someone gets sentenced to probation, the related court records stay in the clerk's files. Violation hearings and revocation proceedings add more documents to the record over time. All of it is accessible to the public once the case reaches a final status, unless a judge orders the file sealed for a specific legal reason.

Record Restriction in Screven County

Georgia allows some criminal records to be restricted from public view under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This applies to arrests that did not end in a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after four years, and dead docket cases over 12 months old. For arrests in Screven County on or after July 1, 2013, file for restriction through the District Attorney's office. For older arrests, go to the arresting agency. The processing fee can be up to $50. Georgia caps misdemeanor conviction restrictions at two per lifetime.

Time-expired restrictions happen automatically when GCIC does not receive a final disposition within set time frames. Two years for misdemeanors. Four years for felonies. Seven years for serious violent felonies. These only affect the state database. Out-of-state and federal checks may still show the record. For a full restriction, follow the formal process through the Screven County courts.

Screven County Court Resources

For your own criminal history, go to the local sheriff's office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page has the statewide process laid out. Call (404) 244-2639 option 3 with questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can request criminal history from the Georgia Crime Information Center with a written request that includes the case details and subject information.

Screven County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic filings. Attorneys can file motions and documents online rather than driving to Sylvania. The system runs 24 hours a day. The GBI Open Records Unit handles state-level criminal history requests through their online portal or by mail to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. Email requests are no longer accepted. The FANS system from the GSCCCA sends free alerts when new filings hit any Georgia county, including Screven.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit stopped taking email requests in December 2023.

Cities in Screven County

All criminal cases from Screven County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Sylvania. The courthouse on Mims Road handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Screven County include Sylvania, Rocky Ford, Oliver, Newington, and Hiltonia. Criminal cases from all of these areas are processed through the Screven County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Screven County. Criminal cases must be filed where the arrest took place. Check the address of the alleged crime if you are not sure which county holds the record.