Turner County Criminal Records

Turner County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse on East College Avenue in Ashburn. This south-central Georgia county is part of the Tifton Judicial Circuit, which also covers Tift, Irwin, and Worth counties. You can search criminal case data by visiting the clerk office in person or by using state-level online tools. The Tifton Judicial Circuit District Attorney handles all felony prosecutions for Turner County. Walk-in requests are taken during business hours, and the clerk staff can pull case files, check court dates, and make copies of criminal records on the spot. Turner County processes both felony and misdemeanor cases through the courts in Ashburn.

Turner County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court is in charge of all criminal court records in Turner County. The office is at 219 E. College Avenue in Ashburn. Call (229) 567-2011 to check on a case or ask about a court date. The clerk staff can search by name or case number. They can pull up criminal case files and make copies for you. Walk-ins are welcome during normal hours. Bring a valid ID when you come in. Most lookups take just a few minutes at the front counter.

The GSCCCA page for Turner County shows the clerk contact info and links to the statewide filing system for this county.

The GSCCCA ties all 159 Georgia county clerk offices into one system. From the Turner County page, you can find the clerk address, phone, and links to search tools for real estate and lien records. A standard GSCCCA account runs $14.95 per month. Premium access costs $29.95 per month. While GSCCCA focuses on property filings, it can help you find the right clerk for criminal records too.

How to Search Turner County Criminal Records

The most direct way to get criminal court records in Turner County is to visit the courthouse in Ashburn. Go to the clerk office on East College Avenue and tell them what you need. Staff can search the system and make copies right there. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need a reason. The clerk has to respond within three business days. Standard copies cost $0.10 per page, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

You can also mail a written request to 219 E. College Avenue, Ashburn, GA 31714. Include the full name of the person you are looking for, their date of birth if known, and any case number you might have. The clerk will search and send back what they find. Fees apply. If you need certified copies for legal use, say so in your request. Certified copies cost more than regular ones.

For online access, try the E-Access to Court Records portal. This statewide tool connects you to case data from courts across Georgia, including Turner County. You will need an account to search. The GSCCCA also indexes filings from all Georgia counties and can point you toward the right clerk for criminal case files.

Note: Turner County is a smaller county, so the clerk office may have shorter wait times than larger courthouses in Georgia.

Turner County Courts and Criminal Cases

Turner County Superior Court handles felony cases. Drug charges, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious offenses all go through this court. The State Court takes misdemeanor cases. Simple assault, minor drug possession, and criminal traffic matters land here. Magistrate Court in Turner County deals with warrants, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings. Each court creates records that the clerk keeps on file. The Tifton Judicial Circuit District Attorney prosecutes felony cases for Turner County along with Tift, Irwin, and Worth counties.

Cases follow the standard Georgia path. Arrest. Charges filed. The case moves through the court system. Docket entries, motions, and court orders all go into the criminal case file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, some records stay out of public view while a case is still under active investigation. Once the investigation ends or the case wraps up, most records become open to the public. Basic docket data and court dates are usually available even during an open case.

Criminal Record Restriction in Turner County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This process used to be called expungement. The records still exist, but they get hidden from public searches. Law enforcement and judges can still see them. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify. Certain misdemeanor convictions are eligible after four years with no other convictions during that time. Cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months can also be restricted. Georgia caps it at two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per lifetime.

For arrests in Turner County on or after July 1, 2013, start by contacting the District Attorney's office in the Tifton Judicial Circuit. For older arrests, reach out to the arresting law enforcement agency. Agencies can charge up to $50 for the process. It takes anywhere from two weeks to 90 days. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own if the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final disposition within the set time frames. That is two years for misdemeanors, four years for felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies.

For your own criminal history, visit the Turner County Sheriff's Office. Ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page explains how this works. Call the GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about your record statewide, including cases from Turner County. The FANS system is free and lets you monitor new filings tied to your name across Georgia.

Getting Criminal Records in Turner County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can share criminal history data with defense attorneys who submit a written request. The request must include case style, case number, and identifying info for the subject. Fees apply but are waived for indigent defendants. Attorneys in Turner County use this when they need a full criminal history for trial prep. eFiling is also available through the Odyssey eFileGA system for attorneys and parties to a case in Turner County.

To look up criminal records in Turner County, you will need:

• Full name of the person you want to search
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if available
• Whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor
• Whether you need certified or uncertified copies

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer takes requests by email as of December 2023, so use their online portal or mail your request.

Cities in Turner County

Ashburn is the county seat and the main city in Turner County. Criminal cases from Ashburn and other communities in the county go through the Turner County Superior Court or State Court at the courthouse on East College Avenue. Other towns in Turner County include Rebecca and Sycamore. All criminal filings from these areas are processed by the Turner County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Turner County. If you are not sure which county handles a criminal case, check the address where the arrest took place. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime occurred.