Find Felony Records in Martinez

Martinez felony records are filed through the Columbia County Superior Court. Martinez is a census-designated place in Columbia County with about 33,000 residents, located just west of Augusta. Since Martinez is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own police force or municipal court. All law enforcement and court services come from Columbia County. If you need to search for a felony case connected to Martinez, you will work through the county clerk, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, and state databases that track criminal convictions across Georgia.

Columbia County and Martinez Felony Cases

All felony cases from Martinez are handled by Columbia County. The Columbia County Clerk of Superior Court keeps case files at 640 Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans. Call (706) 312-7139 to ask about a felony case or to request copies of court documents. The clerk's office is the main place to get records from felony prosecutions tied to the Martinez area.

Columbia County has grown fast over the past two decades. With about 167,000 residents, the court system stays busy. Felony cases begin when the Columbia County Sheriff's Office or another local agency makes an arrest. The District Attorney reviews the case and presents it to a grand jury. If the grand jury returns a true bill, the case moves to Superior Court for trial or plea. Each of these steps creates records that become part of the court file. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the Georgia Open Records Act gives the public the right to see most court documents. Fees for copies run about $0.10 per page.

Law Enforcement in Martinez

Martinez does not have its own police department. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the area. Their office is at 2273 County Camp Road in Appling, and you can call (706) 541-2800. The sheriff handles all arrests in Martinez, runs the county jail, and keeps booking records. If someone is arrested for a felony in Martinez, the sheriff's office processes the booking and the case goes to the county DA.

Because Martinez is a CDP, there is no municipal court. All criminal matters go through the county court system. Misdemeanors go to Columbia County State Court, and felonies go to Columbia County Superior Court. This is different from incorporated cities like Evans or Augusta, where city police may handle the initial arrest. In Martinez, the sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency for everything from traffic stops to felony investigations.

You can request arrest records and incident reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Under the Open Records Act, most arrest data is available to the public. Call the records division or submit a written request. Some records tied to an ongoing case may be held back until the investigation is done.

How to Search Martinez Felony Records

The Georgia Felon Search lets you check for felony convictions in any Georgia county, including Columbia County. Each search costs $15 and needs the subject's name, date of birth, and sex. You get results right away. This only shows convictions, not arrests or pending charges. The legal basis for this tool is O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, which allows public release of felony conviction data.

The Georgia Department of Corrections has a free search tool at services.gdc.ga.gov. This covers current and former state prison inmates. If someone from the Martinez area served time in a Georgia prison, they will show up in this search. Results include the offense, sentence, and possible release date. You can search by name or by GDC ID number.

The Georgia Crime Information Center is the state's central criminal history repository. Every arrest in Martinez that involved fingerprinting goes into this system. You can get a criminal history report by going to a local law enforcement agency and paying about $15. The GCIC processes the request and sends back results in five to ten business days. Without written consent from the subject, only felony conviction data is released to the public under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34.

Martinez Felony Record Restrictions

Some felony arrest records in Georgia can be restricted. This means they won't show up on most background checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, if you were arrested for a felony in Martinez but not convicted, you may be able to have the record sealed. For arrests after July 1, 2013, contact the Columbia County District Attorney. For older arrests, apply through the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

The time periods for automatic restriction are two years for misdemeanors, four years for non-violent felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies. The GBI handles record restriction applications and can answer questions at (404) 244-2639. Georgia also has the First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1) which may seal records for people who completed probation as a first-time offender.

Note: Restricted records still appear in law enforcement databases, but they are hidden from most public background checks.

State Level Resources

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all 159 county clerk offices. You can search for court filings from Columbia County through this system. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole status and pardon applications for felony offenders across the state.

• Georgia Felon Search: $15, instant results online
• GDC Offender Search: Free, covers prison inmates
• GCIC Criminal History: ~$15 at local law enforcement
• Columbia County Clerk: (706) 312-7139 for court records

The nearby city of Evans is also in Columbia County and uses the same court system. Augusta is just to the east in Richmond County and has its own set of courts and law enforcement agencies.

Columbia County Felony Records

Martinez falls under Columbia County for all felony matters. The county handles court filings, jail records, and prosecution for the entire area. Visit the Columbia County page for more details on the court system, sheriff contacts, and search options.

View Columbia County Felony Records