Stewart County Criminal Records

Stewart County criminal court records are stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Lumpkin. This small, rural county in southwest Georgia is part of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit with a population just over 3,000. Despite its size, the clerk office processes all criminal case filings and keeps full court records on file. You can search for Stewart County criminal records by calling the clerk, visiting the courthouse on Broad Street, or using statewide online databases. Staff at the office handle case lookups, court date checks, and copy requests during normal business hours. The low case volume in Stewart County means the staff can often get to your request quickly.

Stewart County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Stewart County manages all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 1764 Broad Street, Lumpkin, GA 31815. Call (229) 838-6220 to ask about a case or check on a filing. Hours run Monday through Friday. Staff can pull case files, look up docket info, and provide copies of criminal records on request. Stewart County is part of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, which also includes Lee, Macon, Schley, Sumter, and Webster counties. The circuit judge rotates through these counties, but all Stewart County case files stay with the clerk in Lumpkin.

The GSCCCA page for Stewart County lists the clerk contact details and links to the county filing system through the state cooperative authority.

Use this page to confirm the Stewart County clerk info and get to the filing indexes the GSCCCA keeps for all Georgia counties.

How to Search Stewart County Criminal Records

Call (229) 838-6220 to start. The clerk staff can search criminal cases by name or case number and let you know what is in the file. Copies cost $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 at 1764 Broad Street in Lumpkin or mail a written request to the same address. Fax works too if the office provides a number when you call.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. You have the right to ask for them. No reason needed. The Stewart County clerk must respond within three business days. This is the same Open Records Act that covers all 159 counties. Your request can come in person, by phone, by fax, or by mail.

Stewart County does not have its own online portal for court records. To search online, use the E-Access to Court Records portal or the GSCCCA. E-Access needs an account. The GSCCCA costs $14.95 per month for regular access and $29.95 for premium. Both tools cover all Georgia counties, so Stewart County criminal records are searchable from anywhere.

Note: Stewart County is one of the least populated counties in Georgia, so the clerk office staff is small but still handles all the same record types.

Criminal Cases in Stewart County

Superior Court in Stewart County handles felony cases. Drug charges, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and other serious crimes go through Superior Court. State Court takes misdemeanors like DUI, simple battery, and minor theft. Magistrate Court deals with bond hearings and preliminary matters. The Southwestern Judicial Circuit judge rotates through Stewart County along with the other counties in the circuit. Criminal docket days follow that rotation. All courts create records that the clerk stores in Lumpkin.

Every criminal case in Stewart County starts with an arrest and charges. Then come hearings, motions, and either a plea deal or trial. Each step adds documents to the court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active investigations can be kept from the public while the case is open. Once it closes, the full file becomes available. Basic docket info and court dates are usually available even while a case is still active in Stewart County. The Southwestern Circuit District Attorney prosecutes felonies across all six counties in the circuit, and the resulting court records stay in the county where the case originated.

Record Restriction in Stewart County

Georgia allows certain criminal records to be restricted under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This covers arrests without a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and dead docket cases over 12 months old. Stewart County residents file through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For earlier arrests, contact the arresting agency. The fee is up to $50. Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions over their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible for restriction under any path.

Time-expired restrictions happen automatically if GCIC does not receive a final disposition within a certain window. Misdemeanors take two years. Felonies take four. Serious violent felonies take seven. These only affect the state database. Federal and out-of-state checks may still show the record. For a full restriction of your Stewart County criminal record, use the formal petition process through the courts.

To get your own criminal history, go to the local sheriff's office and request a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page covers the statewide process. Call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can also request criminal history data from the Georgia Crime Information Center with a written request.

Stewart County Court Resources

Stewart County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic court filings. Attorneys can file motions and documents online instead of going to the courthouse in Lumpkin. This system creates a digital trail that becomes part of the criminal court record. It runs 24 hours a day. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, the clerk may let the public view eFiled documents through the court website.

The GBI Open Records Unit handles state-level criminal history requests through their online portal or by mail at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. Email requests are no longer accepted as of December 2023. The FANS system from the GSCCCA is free and sends alerts when new filings hit any Georgia county, including Stewart. It is a simple way to keep tabs on case activity without contacting the clerk each time.

Cities in Stewart County

All criminal cases from Stewart County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Lumpkin. The courthouse on Broad Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Stewart County include Lumpkin and Richland. Criminal cases from all areas of the county are processed through the Stewart County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Stewart County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the arrest took place. Check the address of the alleged crime if you need to figure out which county has the record.