Access Seminole County Criminal Records

Seminole County criminal court records are maintained at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Donalsonville. Sitting in the far southwest corner of Georgia near the Florida border, this county is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit with a population around 6,000. You can search for criminal case records by contacting the clerk, visiting the courthouse on Knox Avenue, or using Georgia's statewide databases. The clerk staff handles case file lookups, court date questions, and copy requests during normal business hours. Seminole County shares its judicial circuit with six other counties, so the Superior Court judge rotates through the area on a set schedule.

Seminole County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Seminole County manages all criminal court records filed in the county. The office is at 200 S. Knox Avenue, Donalsonville, GA 39845. Call (229) 524-2255 to ask about a case or check on a pending filing. Office hours are Monday through Friday. Staff can pull case files, look up docket info, and give you copies of criminal records on request. Since Seminole County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit, the Superior Court judge also serves Clay, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph, and Terrell counties. Criminal docket days in Seminole County follow the circuit rotation, but all local case files stay with the clerk in Donalsonville.

The GSCCCA page for Seminole County lists the clerk contact details and links to the statewide filing system.

This page lets you verify the Seminole County clerk info and access the filing indexes the GSCCCA keeps for all Georgia counties.

How to Search Seminole County Criminal Records

Start by calling (229) 524-2255. The clerk staff can search criminal cases by name or case number. If you need copies, the cost is $0.10 per page under Georgia law. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. You can also visit the courthouse on Knox Avenue in Donalsonville or send a written request by mail.

Criminal court records in Georgia are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Anyone can ask for them, and you do not have to give a reason. The Seminole County clerk must respond within three business days. This rule applies to all 159 counties. Your request can come in person, by phone, or in writing. The Open Records Act protects your right to inspect and copy these records as long as they are not sealed or part of an active investigation.

Seminole County does not run its own online court records portal. For online access, use the E-Access to Court Records system or search through the GSCCCA. E-Access needs an account to use. The GSCCCA charges $14.95 per month for a standard account or $29.95 for premium. Both services cover every Georgia county, so you can look up Seminole County criminal records from anywhere.

Note: Seminole County's proximity to the Florida line means some people confuse which state has jurisdiction. If the arrest happened in Georgia, the record is in the Georgia system.

Seminole County Criminal Case Types

Superior Court in Seminole County hears felony cases. Drug trafficking, robbery, assault, and other serious charges go to Superior Court. State Court handles misdemeanors like DUI, simple battery, theft under a certain amount, and minor drug offenses. Magistrate Court holds bond hearings and preliminary matters. All these courts generate records that the clerk keeps on file in Donalsonville. The Pataula Circuit judge sets the docket days, and criminal cases in Seminole County follow that schedule.

Each criminal case starts with an arrest and charges. Hearings, motions, plea deals, or trials follow. Every step produces documents for the court record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active investigations can be kept from the public while the case is pending. Once a case closes, the record is open for review. Court dates and basic docket info are usually available even during active proceedings in Seminole County. The Pataula Circuit District Attorney prosecutes felonies across all seven counties in the circuit, and all related court records stay in the county where the case was filed.

Criminal Record Restriction in Seminole County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia allows certain criminal records to be restricted from public view. This covers arrests that did not result in a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases placed on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Seminole County residents can file for restriction through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. The fee can be up to $50. Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in their lifetime.

Time-expired restrictions happen automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final disposition. For misdemeanors, that window is two years. Felonies take four years. Serious violent felonies require seven years. These automatic restrictions only hit the state database, though. Federal and out-of-state background checks may still show the record. If you want full restriction of a Seminole County criminal record, go through the formal petition process.

For your own criminal history, visit the Seminole County sheriff's office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page has details on the statewide process. Call the GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense attorneys can get criminal history data from GCIC with a written request that includes the case style and subject info.

Seminole County Court Resources

Seminole County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic court filings. Attorneys can file motions and documents online instead of traveling to Donalsonville. This creates a digital trail that becomes part of the criminal court record. The system runs around the clock. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, the clerk may let the public access eFiled documents through the court website.

The GBI Open Records Unit handles requests for state-level criminal history data. As of December 2023, the unit no longer takes email requests. Use the online portal or mail your request to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. The FANS system from the GSCCCA is a free alert tool. It notifies you when a new filing lands in any Georgia county, including Seminole. It is a useful way to track case activity without having to call the clerk each time you want an update.

Cities in Seminole County

All criminal cases from Seminole County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Donalsonville. The courthouse handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Seminole County include Donalsonville and Iron City. Criminal cases from all parts of the county are processed through the Seminole County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Seminole County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the arrest happened. If you are not sure which county has the case, check the location of the alleged crime.