Find Criminal Records in Webster County

Webster County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Preston. This is one of the least populated counties in all of Georgia, but the clerk office still handles felony and misdemeanor case filings just like every other county in the state. You can search Webster County criminal records by calling the clerk office, visiting in person on Hamilton Street, or using Georgia's statewide online databases. The clerk keeps case filings, docket sheets, and court disposition data on file for all criminal matters heard in the county. Preston is the county seat, and the courthouse there is the center of all court business in Webster County.

Webster County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court in Webster County handles all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 6330 Hamilton Street in Preston. Call (229) 828-3525 with questions about a criminal case or to check on a filing. Hours are Monday through Friday. The clerk can search by name or case number. Webster County is very small, with a population under 2,700, and the clerk office has a limited staff. But the same rules and procedures that apply to large metro counties apply here too. Walk-ins are welcome, and the staff can pull case files and make copies for you.

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

Use this page to confirm the Webster County clerk details and access filing indexes that the GSCCCA maintains for all 159 Georgia counties.

How to Search Webster County Criminal Records

The easiest way is to call the clerk at (229) 828-3525. Give them the name or case number you need. They can check and let you know what is on file. You can also go to 6330 Hamilton Street in Preston and ask at the clerk window. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are open to the public. Anyone can request them. No reason needed. The Webster County clerk must respond within three business days. Copies are $0.10 per page, and the first 15 minutes of search time do not cost anything under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

Webster County does not have its own online court records search. For online access, use the E-Access to Court Records system, which covers all Georgia counties. You need to create an account. The GSCCCA also indexes filings from every county. A standard account is $14.95 per month. Premium costs $29.95. These tools let you look up Webster County criminal case data from anywhere with an internet connection.

Note: Webster County's very small case volume means most records requests are handled quickly and without a wait.

Webster County Criminal Case Types

Superior Court handles felony cases in Webster County. Drug charges, violent crimes, burglary, and armed robbery all go through Superior Court. State Court takes misdemeanor cases. DUI, simple battery, minor theft, and low-level drug charges are processed there. Magistrate Court manages preliminary hearings and bond settings. All of these courts create criminal records that the Webster County Clerk stores. Every case builds a paper trail from arrest through sentencing, and that trail is part of the public record once the case closes.

Because Webster County has such a small population, the criminal case volume is very low. The court calendar is lighter here than in most other Georgia counties. That can work in your favor if you need records fast. The clerk staff is not buried under requests, so they can usually get to yours quickly. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active investigations can be held from the public. Once the investigation ends and the case is resolved, the record opens up.

Criminal Record Restriction in Webster County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This applies to arrests without a conviction, some misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases sitting on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Webster County residents should file through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For older arrests, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. The processing fee can be up to $50. Georgia limits you to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions total. Serious violent felonies and sex crimes are never eligible.

Time-expired restrictions can happen automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a final disposition on a case. For misdemeanors, that happens after two years. Felonies take four years. Serious violent felonies, seven years. But these automatic restrictions only cover the state database. They might not show up on all background checks. If you want full restriction on a Webster County criminal record, go through the formal process. Call the GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for help with statewide criminal history questions.

Webster County Court Resources

Webster County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic court filings. Attorneys can submit motions and documents online without traveling to the Preston courthouse. These filings become part of the official court record. The eFileGA system runs around the clock. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, Superior Court Clerks may offer public access to view eFiled documents online.

If you want your own criminal history, visit the Webster County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. That is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal record for personal review. The GBI Criminal History page has details on the statewide process. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, attorneys can also get criminal history data from the Georgia Crime Information Center with a written request. The GBI Open Records Unit takes requests through their online portal or by mail to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034.

Note: Email requests to the GBI Open Records Unit are no longer accepted as of December 2023.

Cities in Webster County

All criminal cases from Webster County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Preston. The courthouse on Hamilton Street handles every felony and misdemeanor filing in the county.

Preston is the main town in Webster County. Criminal cases from the county are all processed through the Webster County court system.

Nearby Counties

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