Candler County Felony Record Search

Candler County felony records are filed at the Superior Court Clerk office in Metter, Georgia. This rural southeast Georgia county has around 11,000 people and falls in the Middle Judicial Circuit. Searching for criminal case data here means contacting the clerk or the Candler County Sheriff's Office directly, as no public online case search tool exists for this county. State-level databases like the GDC Offender Query and Georgia Felon Search also cover Candler County felony cases and give quick results for statewide lookups.

Candler County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court keeps all felony records in Candler County. Every criminal filing goes through this office. Indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and dispositions sit in the clerk's files. Paper records and some digital files exist for felony cases heard in the Candler County Superior Court. Staff can pull a file by name or case number if you visit in person.

Walk-in requests are the standard way to get records from the Candler County clerk. Bring your ID and know the name of the person you want to search. A date of birth helps too. Copies cost $0.10 per page under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies have a higher fee. The Candler County Clerk of Court is at 35 S. East College Street, Metter, GA 30439. Call (912) 685-5257 for questions about felony records in Candler County.

Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The Candler County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records and jail bookings. O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7 requires the sheriff to keep records of all people held in the county jail. These records include the person's name, charges filed, booking date, and the court that issued the arrest warrant.

The sheriff's office is at 1019 E. Broad Street, Metter, GA 30439. Call (912) 685-2568 for information about inmates or recent arrests. The sheriff can run local criminal history checks. Georgia law caps the fee at $20 per person under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. Candler County felony arrest data is public under state law. Anyone can request it without being part of the case.

Note: Arrest records from the Candler County Sheriff may not reflect final court outcomes on pending cases.

Online Search Options for Candler County

Candler County does not run its own online case search. But state tools cover felony records here just like every other Georgia county.

The GDC Offender Query is free and shows current and former state prison inmates. Search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. If someone from Candler County went to state prison, their record will come up. You get charges, sentence length, facility, and possible release dates. This is usually the best free starting point for Candler County felony searches.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 each time you search. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions statewide. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results appear instantly. Even a "no record found" result costs $15. This tool gives you felony conviction data specific to Candler County or any Georgia county.

The GDC Offender Search portal shown above lets you look up inmates convicted in Candler County and across Georgia at no cost.

State Agencies and Candler County Records

The Georgia Crime Information Center is the central spot for criminal history data in the state. GCIC collects arrest records, court outcomes, and prison data from all 159 counties. You can request a criminal history check through the Candler County Sheriff or straight from GCIC. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, the center must maintain complete and accurate records for every person arrested in Georgia.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all county clerk offices. Candler County uses this shared system for case management. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles tracks parole status for offenders convicted in Candler County. If someone is on parole, their status may be available through the board.

Candler County Record Restrictions

Most felony records in Candler County are public. Court files, arrest records, and booking data are open under the Open Records Act. The clerk and sheriff must respond within three business days.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some arrest records can be restricted if the case was never prosecuted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the prosecuting attorney handles the restriction. For older arrests, you apply at the arresting agency. Restricted Candler County felony records still exist for law enforcement but don't show up in public background checks. The First Offender Act, O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, also lets first-time offenders seal records after completing probation. Serious violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 face longer restriction wait periods of up to seven years.

Note: Felony convictions in Candler County are almost always public regardless of restriction requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Candler County. Each one keeps its own set of felony records at the local courthouse.