Clayton County Felony Records

Clayton County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Jonesboro. With roughly 298,000 residents, Clayton County is one of Georgia's most populous counties and sits just south of Atlanta in the Clayton Judicial Circuit. The clerk stores all court filings for felony cases while the sheriff handles arrest records and jail bookings. The sheriff's office also offers an online jail docket inquiry tool. You can search for felony records in person at the Jonesboro courthouse, by phone, or through statewide databases.

Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary keeper of felony records in Clayton County. This is one of the busier clerk offices in the state. Every felony case filing goes through here. Indictments, arraignment records, plea deals, sentencing documents, and dispositions are all stored at this office. The clerk keeps paper and electronic files for all felony cases heard in the Clayton County Superior Court.

Visit the courthouse at 9151 Tara Boulevard, Jonesboro, GA 30236 to search records in person. Bring a valid photo ID and the name of the person whose record you need. A date of birth or case number will help narrow results considerably. Copies cost $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies run higher. Call (770) 477-3311 for questions about Clayton County felony case records. The office handles walk-in and mail requests.

Clayton County is the sole county in the Clayton Judicial Circuit. That means the judges here only serve Clayton County, unlike many circuits that cover multiple counties. This dedicated setup means the court calendar is entirely focused on Clayton County cases. Given the county's population of nearly 300,000, case volumes are high and the court stays busy year-round.

Clayton County Sheriff's Office

The Clayton County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records and runs the county detention center. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must keep a record of every person committed to the jail. These records include the person's name, age, sex, race, charges, booking date, discharge date, and which court issued the process.

The sheriff's office is at 9157 Tara Boulevard, Jonesboro, GA 30236. Call (770) 477-4479 for general inquiries. The Clayton County Jail can be reached at (770) 477-4441. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the agency can charge up to $20 for criminal history checks.

Clayton County offers an online Jail Docket Inquiry tool. This database shows current and recent inmates at the detention facility. The sheriff is required by law to provide this information to the public. The tool includes a disclaimer noting that by using it, you acknowledge the data comes as-is. The jail docket is updated regularly and shows booking information including charges and court dates.

The Georgia Department of Corrections Offender Query shown above is a free tool for searching state inmates from Clayton County and all other Georgia counties.

Searching Clayton County Felony Records Online

Multiple online tools cover Clayton County felony records. Between the local jail docket and state databases, there are several ways to search from home.

The GDC Offender Query is free. It covers all current and former state prison inmates. If someone convicted in Clayton County went to state prison, their record appears here. Search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results show charges, sentence length, facility, and projected release dates. Given Clayton County's population, expect many results for common names.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions statewide. You need the full name, date of birth, and sex. Results are instant. A "no record found" costs $15 too. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this data can be released without fingerprint verification. For Clayton County, this is the most thorough paid option short of going to the courthouse.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all county clerk offices in the state. Clayton County uses this shared system for e-filing and case management. The GSCCCA website lets you search real estate records, liens, and some court documents. This can be helpful for finding related civil filings connected to a felony case.

Record Access and Restrictions

Felony records in Clayton County are mostly public. Court files, arrest records, and booking data are all open under the Georgia Open Records Act. Agencies must respond to requests within three business days.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, arrest records can be restricted if the case was not prosecuted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the prosecuting attorney manages restriction requests. Restricted records are hidden from public view but still show up for law enforcement agencies. Given Clayton County's size, a significant number of restriction requests come through each year.

The First Offender Act, O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, lets first-time offenders seal records after completing probation. Violent felonies have a longer wait before any sealing can occur. Most felony convictions in Clayton County remain permanently public.

State Resources for Clayton County

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

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles tracks parole information for offenders convicted in Clayton County. Because Clayton County is its own judicial circuit, cases are not shared with other counties. This simplifies tracking but the sheer volume means the court stays very busy.

State databases may not include the most recent filings from the Clayton County Superior Court. For the newest records, contact the clerk in Jonesboro directly.

Cities in Clayton County

Clayton County includes Jonesboro, Riverdale, Forest Park, Lake City, Morrow, and Lovejoy. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All felony cases from within the county go through the Clayton County Superior Court in Jonesboro.

Nearby Counties

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