Find Criminal Records in Telfair County

Telfair County criminal court records are stored at the Clerk of Superior Court office in McRae. This south-central Georgia county sits along the Ocmulgee River and has a population around 16,000. The clerk office on East Oak Street handles all criminal case filings for the county, from felonies in Superior Court to misdemeanors in State Court. You can search for Telfair County criminal records in person, by phone, or through statewide online databases that cover all Georgia counties. Staff at the courthouse help with records requests, docket lookups, and case status inquiries during regular hours. Telfair County is part of a multi-county judicial circuit that shares court resources with surrounding counties.

Telfair County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Telfair County is the custodian of all criminal court records filed in the county. The office address is 19 E. Oak Street in McRae. Call (229) 868-6525 to ask about a case or request copies. Staff search by name or case number and can pull files while you wait. The courthouse in McRae is the only location for Telfair County criminal filings. Walk-ins are accepted during office hours. Telfair County has a moderate case load for a rural Georgia county, and most routine records requests are handled quickly by the clerk staff.

The GSCCCA page for Telfair County provides the clerk contact details and connects to the statewide filing index run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

This page lets you check the Telfair County clerk address and phone number. It also links to the GSCCCA filing data that covers all Georgia counties.

Searching Telfair County Criminal Records

The fastest way to get criminal court records from Telfair County is to call the clerk at (229) 868-6525 or visit the courthouse in McRae. Give the staff a name or case number and they can look it up. Copies are $0.10 per page under Georgia law. The first 15 minutes of search time cost nothing under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. After that first quarter hour, Telfair County can bill you at the rate of the lowest paid qualified employee. Most simple lookups in Telfair County do not take that long. Mail requests go to 19 E. Oak Street, McRae, GA 31055.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records are public in Georgia. Anyone can request them without giving a reason. The Telfair County clerk must respond within three business days. This law applies across the state. You can make your request in person, by phone, by fax, or through the mail. Written requests should include as much detail as possible about the case or person you are looking for.

When searching Telfair County criminal records, have this ready:

• Full legal name of the person
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if known
• Whether the charge was a felony or misdemeanor
• Approximate date of the case if possible

Criminal Cases in Telfair County

Telfair County Superior Court handles felony cases. Drug offenses, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious charges are heard at this level. State Court handles misdemeanor cases like DUI, simple battery, trespassing, and minor drug charges. Magistrate Court deals with bond hearings and preliminary matters. All of these courts create criminal records that the Telfair County clerk keeps on file. The county is part of the Oconee Judicial Circuit, which means circuit judges travel to McRae on a regular schedule to hear cases.

The District Attorney's office prosecutes felonies filed in Telfair County. The Solicitor General handles misdemeanor cases. Both offices generate documents and filings that become part of the criminal court record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records tied to an active investigation may be shielded from public view. Once a case concludes, the full record is generally open. Basic court dates and docket data are usually accessible even while a case is still pending.

Note: Telfair County shares its judicial circuit with nearby counties, so court schedules may vary depending on the judge's rotation through the circuit.

Telfair County Records Online

Telfair County does not operate its own online portal for court records. To search criminal records online, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filing data from all 159 Georgia counties. The site is mainly for real estate and lien records, but it can help you find the clerk for criminal case data. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month. Premium access is $29.95 per month.

The E-Access to Court Records portal connects to court data statewide. You need an account to use it. This lets you check Telfair County criminal case info from home rather than going to McRae. If a Telfair County case went to appeal, the Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appellate filings.

For your own criminal history, go to the Telfair County Sheriff's Office and request a Purpose Code U report. That is the standard method for getting your Georgia criminal record. The GBI Criminal History page explains the statewide process. Call the GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for help.

Criminal Record Restriction in Telfair County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia allows certain criminal records to be restricted from public view. This used to be called expungement. It covers arrests that did not end in a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Telfair County residents who were arrested on or after July 1, 2013, file through the District Attorney's office. For earlier arrests, contact the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. The fee can go up to $50.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions over their lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses cannot be restricted under any path. Time-expired restrictions happen automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final disposition within two years for misdemeanors or four years for felonies. These only cover the state database. For full protection, go through the formal process. The GBI Open Records Unit takes requests at their online portal or by mail to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034.

Cities in Telfair County

All criminal cases in Telfair County go through the Superior Court or State Court in McRae. The courthouse on East Oak Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Telfair County include McRae-Helena, Lumber City, Jacksonville, and Scotland. Criminal cases from these areas are all processed through the Telfair County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Telfair County. Criminal cases get filed in the county where the arrest took place. If you are not sure which county has the record, check the location of the alleged offense.