Find Criminal Records in Towns County

Towns County criminal court records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Hiawassee. This mountain county sits in the far northeast corner of Georgia, near the North Carolina border, and has a population around 12,500. The clerk office on River Street manages all criminal case filings for the county, from felony matters in Superior Court to misdemeanor charges in State Court. You can search Towns County criminal records in person, by phone, or through statewide online tools. Hiawassee is a small town, and the courthouse is easy to find. Staff at the clerk office handle records requests, docket lookups, and copy orders during normal business hours.

Towns County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Towns County is the official custodian of all criminal court records in the county. The office sits at 48 River Street in Hiawassee. Call (706) 896-2680 to check on a case, ask about a court date, or get copies of criminal records. The staff searches by name or case number and can pull files while you wait. Towns County has a low case volume compared to metro counties, and the clerk office is a small operation. Most requests get handled quickly. The courthouse is in downtown Hiawassee, close to the town square and Lake Chatuge.

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

Use this page to confirm the Towns County clerk address and phone. The GSCCCA filing data covers all 159 Georgia counties, including Towns County.

Note: Towns County shares the Enotah Judicial Circuit with Union and Lumpkin counties, so the circuit judge rotates through the area on a set schedule.

How to Search Towns County Criminal Records

To search for criminal court records in Towns County, call (706) 896-2680 or visit the clerk office in Hiawassee. The staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you. Copy fees are $0.10 per page under Georgia law. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. After that, the county can charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid qualified employee. Towns County's low case volume means most lookups take just minutes. Written requests can be mailed to 48 River Street, Hiawassee, GA 30546.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them without explaining why. The Towns County clerk must respond within three business days. This law applies across the state. You can make your request by visiting the office, calling, faxing, or mailing a letter. Bring a valid photo ID if you plan to visit in person.

When searching Towns County criminal records, have this info ready:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if available
• Felony or misdemeanor designation

Criminal Cases in Towns County

Towns County Superior Court handles felony cases. Drug offenses, burglary, assault, and other serious crimes go through this court. State Court takes misdemeanors like DUI, simple battery, trespassing, and petty theft. Magistrate Court deals with bond settings and preliminary hearings. All three courts create criminal records that the Towns County Clerk of Superior Court keeps. The Enotah Judicial Circuit covers Towns County along with Union and Lumpkin counties, so the circuit judges split their time across these three counties throughout the year.

The District Attorney handles felony prosecutions. The Solicitor General manages misdemeanor cases. Both offices produce filings that go into the criminal court record. Each case starts with an arrest. Charges get filed. The case moves through hearings, motions, and either a plea or trial. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active investigations may be temporarily held back from public view. Once the case concludes, the full record opens up. Basic docket data and court dates are usually accessible even during a pending case in Towns County.

Towns County sees seasonal increases in criminal cases during the summer and fall months when tourism brings more people to the area around Lake Chatuge and Brasstown Bald. DUI and minor offenses tend to tick up during these periods.

Towns County Records Online

Towns County does not have its own online court records portal. For online access, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 counties in the state. GSCCCA mainly covers real estate and lien records, but it helps you locate the right clerk for criminal case data. A regular account is $14.95 per month and premium access costs $29.95.

The E-Access to Court Records system connects to court data across Georgia. You must create an account to search. This lets you check Towns County criminal case status from home instead of driving to Hiawassee. If a criminal case from Towns County went to appeal, the Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appellate filings at the state level.

For your own criminal history, visit the Towns County Sheriff's Office and request a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page covers the statewide process. Call (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about your record. The GBI Open Records Unit takes requests at their online portal or by mail. They no longer take email requests as of December 2023.

Towns County Record Restriction

Georgia allows certain criminal records to be restricted from public view under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This applies to arrests without a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year waiting period, and cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Towns County residents who were arrested on or after July 1, 2013, go through the District Attorney's office. For earlier arrests, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. The fee is capped at $50.

Each person can get two misdemeanor conviction restrictions under Georgia law. Violent felonies and sex offenses are never eligible. Time-expired restrictions can happen automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a disposition within two years for misdemeanors or four years for felonies. These automatic restrictions only apply to the state database. A formal restriction provides broader coverage. Towns County's location near the North Carolina border means some people have records in both states, and Georgia restriction only covers the Georgia side of things.

Cities in Towns County

All criminal cases in Towns County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Hiawassee. The courthouse on River Street handles all felony and misdemeanor filings for the county.

Cities and towns in Towns County include Hiawassee and Young Harris. Criminal cases from both areas are processed through the Towns County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Towns County in Georgia. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime occurred. If the arrest was near the North Carolina line, verify the jurisdiction carefully.