Find Wilkes County Criminal Records

Wilkes County criminal court records are filed and stored by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Washington, Georgia. This east Georgia county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its local court system, and the clerk office on East Court Street manages all criminal case filings and records. You can search for criminal court records in Wilkes County by calling the clerk, going to the courthouse in person, or using statewide online search tools. The clerk staff processes records requests throughout the week during business hours. Washington is the county seat and the hub of all court activity for Wilkes County.

Wilkes County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Wilkes County handles all criminal court records for the county. The office is located at 23 E. Court Street in Washington, Georgia. Call (706) 678-2423 with questions about a criminal case or to check on a filing. Hours are Monday through Friday. The staff can search by name or case number and provide copies of court documents. Wilkes County is a small county in east Georgia, but the clerk office processes the same types of criminal filings as any other county in the state. Walk-in requests are handled during regular business hours.

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

You can use this page to confirm the Wilkes County clerk phone and address. The GSCCCA indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties and provides search tools for that data.

Searching Wilkes County Criminal Records

Call (706) 678-2423 to get started. The clerk can look up a case by name or number and tell you what is on file. You can also go to the courthouse at 23 E. Court Street in Washington. Bring a photo ID. 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 Wilkes County clerk has three business days to respond. Copy fees are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

Wilkes County does not have its own online court records portal. For electronic searches, try the statewide E-Access to Court Records system. An account is required to search. The GSCCCA is another option that indexes filings from all Georgia counties. A regular account costs $14.95 per month. Premium costs $29.95. You can also mail a written request to the clerk at 23 E. Court Street, Washington, GA 30673.

What you need for a Wilkes County criminal record search:

• Full name of the person
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if you have it
• Whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Case Types in Wilkes County

Wilkes County Superior Court hears felony cases. Drug charges, violent offenses, burglary, armed robbery, and other serious crimes go through Superior Court. State Court handles misdemeanors like DUI, simple assault, shoplifting, and minor drug possession. Magistrate Court takes care of preliminary hearings and bond settings. All three courts produce criminal records that the Wilkes County Clerk stores and manages. From arrest to final ruling, each step generates documents that become part of the case file. That file is public once the case is done.

Washington is where all court proceedings in Wilkes County take place. The courthouse on Court Street is the location for trials, hearings, and arraignments. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, active investigation records can be held from the public. Once a case is resolved, the full record opens up for inspection. Basic docket data and upcoming court dates are usually accessible even while a case is still going through the system in Wilkes County.

Note: Wilkes County's county seat, Washington, shares its name with Washington County, a separate Georgia county with its seat in Sandersville.

Wilkes County Criminal Record Restriction

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia allows some criminal records to be restricted from public view. You may qualify if your arrest did not result in a conviction, if you have a misdemeanor conviction and four years have passed since completing your sentence, or if your case sat on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Wilkes County residents should file for restriction through the District Attorney's office for arrests on or after July 1, 2013. For arrests before that date, contact the arresting law enforcement agency. The fee can go up to $50.

Georgia caps misdemeanor conviction restrictions at two per person. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are never eligible. Time-expired restrictions can happen on their own when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not get a final disposition. That is two years for misdemeanors, four years for felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies. These automatic restrictions only touch the state database. For a thorough restriction of your Wilkes County criminal record, go through the formal process. The GBI helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 handles statewide criminal history questions.

Wilkes County Court Resources

Wilkes County uses the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic filings. Attorneys can submit motions and documents online without going to the Washington courthouse. These filings become part of the official criminal court record. The eFileGA platform runs around the clock, every day. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, clerks may provide the public with online access to view eFiled documents.

To get your own criminal history, visit the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office in Washington and ask for a Purpose Code U report. This is Georgia's standard process for personal criminal record requests. The GBI Criminal History page covers the statewide details. Attorneys can request criminal history records from the Georgia Crime Information Center under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 by sending a written request with case info. The GBI Open Records Unit accepts requests through their online portal or by mail only. Their address is P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034.

Note: The GBI no longer takes open records requests by email as of December 2023.

Cities in Wilkes County

All criminal cases from Wilkes County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Washington. The courthouse on East Court Street handles every felony and misdemeanor filing for the county.

Cities and towns in Wilkes County include Washington, Tignall, and Rayle. Criminal cases from all of these areas are processed through the Wilkes County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wilkes County in east Georgia. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the arrest took place. Check the location of the alleged crime to find the right county.