Taylor County Criminal Court Records

Taylor County criminal court records are maintained at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Butler, the county seat. This west-central Georgia county has a population around 8,000, and its court system processes felony and misdemeanor criminal cases through the local courts. You can search for Taylor County criminal records by going to the courthouse on North Broad Street, calling the clerk office, or using Georgia's statewide court record databases. The staff in Butler handles records requests, docket lookups, and copy orders during business hours. Taylor County is part of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and shares its court resources with several nearby counties in the region.

Taylor County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Taylor County manages all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 2 N. Broad Street in Butler. You can reach the clerk at (478) 862-5594. Staff can search for criminal cases by name or case number, pull files, and make copies. Office hours run Monday through Friday. Taylor County has a small staff, but they handle the same types of records as any other county in Georgia. The courthouse in Butler is the only location for Taylor County criminal court filings and records requests.

The GSCCCA page for Taylor County lists the clerk contact info and connects to the state filing index through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

From this page, you can verify the Taylor County clerk address and phone number. The GSCCCA site also provides links to statewide filing data that includes Taylor County records.

Note: The Taylor County courthouse is on the town square in Butler, with street parking available around the building.

Search Taylor County Criminal Records

To get criminal court records from Taylor County, start with the clerk office at (478) 862-5594. You can call, visit in person, or send a written request. The staff will search by name or case number and provide copies. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copies cost $0.10 per page and the first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. Taylor County's smaller case load means most searches take just a few minutes. If you mail your request, send it to 2 N. Broad Street, Butler, GA 31006 with a check for estimated copy fees.

Criminal court records in Georgia are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. The Taylor County clerk must respond within three business days. You do not need to give a reason for your request. This applies to felony and misdemeanor case files, court orders, docket sheets, and other documents filed with the clerk. Anyone can ask for these records. The Open Records Act is the same across all 159 counties.

You will need the following to search Taylor County criminal records:

• Full name of the person you are searching
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if available
• Type of offense (felony or misdemeanor)

Criminal Case Types in Taylor County

Taylor County Superior Court takes felony cases. Drug charges, assaults, burglaries, and other serious crimes are heard here. The State Court handles misdemeanors including DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and minor drug offenses. Magistrate Court sets bonds and holds preliminary hearings. All of these courts produce criminal records that the Taylor County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file. The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit covers Taylor County along with several neighboring counties, so the circuit judges rotate through the area on a set schedule.

Each criminal case begins with an arrest. Charges get filed. The case moves through hearings, motions, and either a trial or plea deal. Every step creates documents in the court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records may stay sealed while an investigation is still open. Once a case ends, the full record is generally available for public review. Docket data and court dates are typically accessible even during an ongoing case in Taylor County.

Taylor County Criminal Records Online

Taylor County does not run its own online court records portal. The statewide search tools are the best way to look up records remotely. The GSCCCA indexes filings from every county in Georgia. It mostly covers real estate and lien data, but it helps you locate the right clerk for criminal files. A standard GSCCCA account is $14.95 per month and premium costs $29.95. Both plans cover all Georgia counties.

The E-Access to Court Records portal connects to court data from across the state. You must create an account to search. This system lets you check Taylor County criminal case status from your computer rather than driving to Butler. The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appeals at the state level if a Taylor County criminal case went to a higher court.

For your own criminal history, visit the Taylor County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains the statewide process. The GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records may be restricted from public view. This includes arrests without a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and dead docket cases. Taylor County residents start the process through the District Attorney for arrests on or after July 1, 2013.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit only accepts requests through their online portal or by mail as of December 2023.

Taylor County Record Restriction

Georgia allows some criminal records to be restricted so they do not show up in public searches. The law enforcement and court system can still see them. Restriction is available for arrests that did not lead to a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases sitting on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Georgia caps the restriction fee at $50. Each person can only get two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in their lifetime. Violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible.

Time-expired restrictions happen automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final disposition. For misdemeanors, the timeout is two years. Felonies time out at four years. Serious violent felonies take seven years. These automatic restrictions only apply to the state database. A formal request through the District Attorney's office or the arresting agency gives broader protection. Taylor County residents can call (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about their criminal history in the state system.

Cities in Taylor County

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

Cities and towns in Taylor County include Butler and Reynolds. Criminal cases from these areas are processed through the Taylor County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Taylor County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged offense happened. If you are not sure which county holds the record, check the arrest address.