Bleckley County Felony Records

Bleckley County felony records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Cochran. This small county in central Georgia has about 13,000 residents and sits within the Middle Judicial Circuit. The clerk handles all court filings for felony cases while the sheriff manages arrest and jail records. You can search for felony records in person at the Cochran courthouse, by phone, or through state online databases that cover Bleckley County data.

Bleckley County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary source for felony records in Bleckley County. Every felony case filing goes through this office. Indictments, plea deals, sentencing orders, and case dispositions are all stored here. The clerk keeps both paper files and digital records for cases heard in the Bleckley County Superior Court.

To search records in person, visit the courthouse at 306 SE 2nd Street, Cochran, GA 31014. Bring a valid ID and know the name of the person you are looking for. A date of birth or case number helps narrow results. Copies cost $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies run a bit more. Call (478) 934-3210 for questions about felony case records. The office takes walk-in requests and can also handle written requests sent by mail.

Bleckley County is part of the Middle Judicial Circuit, which also includes Dodge, Pulaski, Telfair, and Wheeler counties. Cases from this circuit are heard by judges who rotate among the five counties. Filing and record-keeping still happens at the local clerk level. So your Bleckley County felony records stay in Cochran regardless of which judge hears the case.

Bleckley County Sheriff's Office

The Bleckley County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and jail bookings. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must keep records of everyone held in the county jail. These records show the person's name, charges, booking date, and which court issued the warrant. Felony arrest records are public under Georgia law.

The sheriff's office is at 179 Jac Arts Rd, Cochran, GA 31014. Call (478) 934-4545 for inmate information or recent arrest records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, local agencies can charge up to $20 for a criminal history check. Because Bleckley County is relatively small, the volume of bookings is lower than in larger metro counties. Requests are usually handled the same day or within a few business days.

The Georgia Department of Corrections Offender Query portal shown above allows you to search for state inmates from Bleckley County and all other Georgia counties at no charge.

Searching Bleckley County Felony Records Online

Several online tools cover Bleckley County felony records. State databases are the fastest way to check from home.

The GDC Offender Query is free. It shows all state prison inmates, past and present. If someone from Bleckley County got a prison sentence, they show up in this database. You can search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results list charges, sentence length, facility, and possible release dates.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup and checks the GCIC database for all felony convictions in Georgia. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. Even a "no record found" result costs $15. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this data can be released without fingerprint comparison. For Bleckley County felony searches, this is the most thorough paid option without going to the courthouse.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all 159 county clerk offices in the state. Bleckley County uses this shared system for case management. The GSCCCA website allows searches across multiple counties at once. You can look up real estate records, liens, and some court filings through this portal.

Record Access and Restrictions

Felony records in Bleckley County are mostly public. Anyone can request them. Court files, arrest records, and booking data are open under the Georgia Open Records Act. Agencies have three business days to respond to a valid request.

Some arrest records can be restricted under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the prosecuting attorney handles restriction requests. For older cases, you apply at the arresting agency. Restricted records still show up in law enforcement searches but not in public searches.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1 lets first-time offenders seal records after finishing probation. This applies to Bleckley County cases too. Serious violent felonies have a longer wait. Most felony convictions in Georgia remain public permanently.

State Resources for Bleckley County

The Georgia Crime Information Center collects criminal history data from all 159 counties, including Bleckley. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC must maintain complete records. You can request a criminal history check through the sheriff or GCIC directly.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority links all county clerk offices. Bleckley County uses this shared system for e-filing and case management. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles tracks parole data for offenders convicted in Bleckley County.

State databases may not include the very latest filings from the Bleckley County Superior Court. For the most current records, contact the clerk's office directly.

Cities in Bleckley County

Bleckley County includes the city of Cochran, which serves as the county seat. No cities in Bleckley County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All felony cases from cities within Bleckley County go through the Bleckley County Superior Court in Cochran.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bleckley County. Each maintains its own felony record system at their courthouse.