Felony Records in Berrien County

Berrien County felony records are kept at the courthouse in Nashville, Georgia. About 18,000 people live in this south Georgia county. The Clerk of Superior Court manages all criminal case filings, court orders, and sentencing documents. The Berrien County Sheriff handles arrest data and jail bookings. You can search for felony records at these local offices or use state databases to check conviction and inmate data for Berrien County residents.

Berrien County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court stores all felony records for Berrien County. Every indictment, plea agreement, and sentencing order from the Superior Court goes into the clerk's files. The office is at 201 E. Smith Street, Nashville, GA 31639. Phone number is (229) 686-7301.

You can walk in and ask staff to pull a felony case file by name or case number. Standard copies are $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost more. Bring a valid ID. The office serves as the permanent record keeper for all Berrien County criminal cases. Hours are Monday through Friday, and you should call ahead to confirm since smaller offices may close for lunch.

Berrien County Sheriff Arrest Data

The Sheriff's Office is at 201 E. Smith Street in Nashville. The sheriff and the clerk share the same street address, which makes it easy to visit both in one trip. Call the sheriff at (229) 686-7071 for arrest records and jail info.

Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the Berrien County Sheriff keeps a log of every person booked into the county jail. That log includes names, charges, dates, and the court that issued the process. These are public records. Anyone can ask to see them. The sheriff also runs local criminal history checks. The fee is up to $20 per person under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. This gives you arrest and conviction info from the local level for Berrien County felony records.

How to Search Berrien County Felony Records

Online and in-person methods are both available. Free state tools give quick results. The courthouse has the full case file.

Start with the GDC Offender Query. This free tool shows all state prison inmates in Georgia. If someone from Berrien County is in a state facility, their record will show up. Search by name or GDC ID number. Results include charges, sentence length, possible release dates, and booking photos.

The Georgia Felon Search is a paid tool at $15 per lookup. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions. Enter the person's name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. This covers Berrien County and every other county in the state under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35.

For complete case files, visit the Berrien County Courthouse. The clerk keeps all documents from each felony case, including motions, hearing records, and evidence lists. Online tools only show summaries of convictions and incarceration data.

State Criminal History for Berrien County

The Georgia Crime Information Center is the main state repository for criminal records. GCIC holds arrest data, court results, and prison records from every Georgia county. Berrien County data flows into this central system. You can request a check through the sheriff or contact GCIC at 404-244-2639.

The GSCCCA connects county clerks through shared tools. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association lists all sheriffs statewide. Both resources help when you need to reach the right office in Berrien County or a nearby county.

Note: GCIC takes 5 to 10 business days to process formal criminal history requests for Berrien County felony records.

Berrien County Felony Record Restrictions

Most felony records are public in Berrien County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the Open Records Act gives you the right to request court files and arrest data. Agencies have three business days to respond.

Some arrest records can be restricted under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This applies when charges were not prosecuted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, contact the prosecuting attorney. For older arrests, apply at the arresting agency. Processing fees can be up to $50. Restricted Berrien County felony records are still visible to law enforcement. The First Offender Act may seal records for first-time offenders who complete their sentence. Felony convictions are public in almost all cases across Georgia.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Berrien County. All maintain their own felony records through their Clerk of Superior Court.