Search Whitfield County Criminal Records

Whitfield County criminal court records are maintained by Clerk of Superior Court Babs Bailey at 205 N. Selvidge Street in Dalton. The clerk's office stores all felony and misdemeanor case files that pass through the Whitfield County court system. You can search for criminal court records online through the Whitfield Records portal or the statewide E-Access PeachCourt system. In-person visits are welcome at the courthouse during regular business hours. The Conasauga Judicial Circuit serves Whitfield County, and the Superior Court takes all felony matters. Five criminal clerks process new filings, manage case updates, and handle records requests at the Dalton courthouse.

Whitfield County Court Clerk Office

Babs Bailey serves as the Clerk of Superior Court for Whitfield County. The main office is at 205 N. Selvidge Street, Suite K, in Dalton. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (706) 278-5120 to ask about a criminal case or get help with a records request. Chief Deputy Clerk Kay Anderson assists with office operations and can step in when the clerk is out. The criminal division staff includes Kelly Thompson, Sue Didonato, Nancy Casteel, Renee Barton, and Rachel Barton. Rozalen Ocampo also handles both civil and criminal matters. These clerks process new case filings, update case records, and respond to public requests for criminal court documents.

The Whitfield Records portal is the county's own online search tool for court records and public filings.

Through this portal, you can look up criminal cases, check case status, and view filed documents without visiting the courthouse. The system covers both criminal and civil records from the Whitfield County Clerk.

Searching Whitfield County Criminal Records

You have several options when searching for criminal court records in Whitfield County. The Whitfield Records portal at whitfieldrecords.us is the quickest way. Enter a name or case number and the system will pull up matching records. You can also use the statewide E-Access PeachCourt system, which connects to court data from counties across Georgia. Both tools are free to search, though you may need to create an account for E-Access. If you prefer to go in person, the clerk's office at 205 N. Selvidge Street in Dalton handles walk-in requests. Bring a valid ID and the staff can search for your case and make copies on the spot.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not have to state a reason. The clerk has three business days to respond. Standard copy fees are $0.10 per page, and the first 15 minutes of staff search time come at no charge under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

To look up criminal records in Whitfield County, you should have:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth if known
• Case number (if you have one)
• Type of charge (felony or misdemeanor)

Note: The clerk's office may ask for more details if your search returns too many results with a common name.

Whitfield County Courts and Criminal Cases

Whitfield County has four courts that handle different types of legal matters. The Superior Court is the main criminal court. It sits at 205 North Selvidge Street in Dalton and takes all felony cases. Call (706) 275-7450 to reach the Superior Court. The fax is (706) 275-7456. Felony charges in Whitfield County go through this court from arraignment to sentencing. The Conasauga Judicial Circuit governs the Superior Court here.

Magistrate Court handles warrants, preliminary hearings, and bond matters. That court is at 205 North Selvidge Street as well. The phone number is (706) 278-5052 and the fax is (706) 278-8810. Juvenile Court also operates out of the same building at (706) 278-6558. Probate Court is in Suite G at the same address and can be reached at (706) 275-7400. All four Whitfield County courts sit in one building, which makes it easy to visit more than one office in a single trip.

Each court creates records that become part of the Whitfield County criminal court file system. The clerk stores and indexes these records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify. Certain misdemeanor convictions are eligible after a four-year waiting period if the person has no other convictions during that time. Cases on a dead docket for more than 12 months can also be restricted. Whitfield County residents start this process through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013.

Whitfield County Criminal Case Resources

The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office at 805 Professional Blvd in Dalton is another source for criminal records. Call (706) 278-1233 or email wcso@whitfieldcountyga.com. The sheriff handles arrests, warrants, and jail operations in Whitfield County. You can request your own criminal history through the sheriff by asking for a Purpose Code U report. This is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. An Open Records Request Form is required for most records from the sheriff's office.

The GBI Criminal History FAQ page covers common questions about getting criminal records in Georgia, including how to correct errors and apply for record restriction.

This page explains how criminal history records work in Georgia and what steps to take if you need to restrict or correct your record. It covers the full process from start to finish, including which agency to contact based on when the arrest happened. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can also answer questions about statewide records, including cases that started in Whitfield County.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can share criminal history data with attorneys who submit a written request. The request must include the case style, case number, and identifying info about the subject. Fees are required unless the defendant is indigent. Defense lawyers in Whitfield County use this to prepare for trial.

Whitfield County Record Fees

Standard copy fees in Whitfield County follow Georgia law. Copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the clerk can charge a prorated hourly rate. Contact the clerk at (706) 278-5120 for the current fee schedule. Some document types may carry different fees. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority also provides search access. A regular account costs $14.95 per month and premium access is $29.95 per month. While GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records, it indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties and can point you to the right clerk.

Record restriction follows state rules set by O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Agencies may charge up to $50 to process a restriction request. There is a lifetime cap of two restrictions for misdemeanor convictions. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses do not qualify. The process can take two weeks to 90 days depending on the case. Victims of trafficking may get free record restriction under the Debbie Vance Act at O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21. For arrests before July 1, 2013, apply through the arresting agency. For later arrests, go through the District Attorney in Whitfield County.

Online Tools for Whitfield County

The E-Access to Court Records portal connects you to case data from Whitfield County and other Georgia counties. You need an account to search. The Georgia Courts website is also a good starting point for finding court directories and judicial resources. The FANS system from GSCCCA is a free monitoring tool. It alerts you when new filings appear under your name in any Georgia county, including Whitfield.

Time-expired restrictions may still show on FBI or out-of-state background checks. Some records are automatically restricted if no disposition is received by GCIC within set time frames: two years for misdemeanors, four years for felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies. For full restriction of your Whitfield County criminal record, follow the formal application process rather than relying on automatic time limits. The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts requests by email as of December 2023. Use their online portal or mail your request.

Note: The GCIC lobby in Decatur is open by appointment only for record inspections and fingerprint services.

Cities in Whitfield County

Whitfield County sits in the northwest corner of Georgia with Dalton as its county seat. All criminal cases from cities and towns in the county go through the Whitfield County Superior Court system at 205 North Selvidge Street in Dalton.

Other communities in Whitfield County include Tunnel Hill, Varnell, and Cohutta. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Whitfield County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Whitfield 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.